Digital Commons Network^™

Age And Growth Of Whale Sharks (Rhincodon Typus) Near The South Ari Atoll, Maldives, Cameron T. Perry

HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations

The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) has a global distribution in warm to warm temperate oceans, and is a species of high conservation concern currently categorized as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Despite its dire conservation status and concerns about the growing number of ecotourism interactions with this species worldwide, relatively little information is available on key aspects of whale shark biology such as growth rates, reproductive rates, survival rates and breeding habitats. In particular, critical information such as age and growth of whale sharks is needed to improve the management and …

The Current Volume 27 : Issue 25, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Developing Competency Model Using Repertory Grid Technique: The Case Of Spinning Master, Praveen Kumar Srivastava, Bhavna Jaiswal

The Qualitative Report

This paper aims to develop the Competency Model using Repertory Grid Technique. 15 Spinning Master of a large textile company in India were interviewed using repertory grid technique. The study identified 9 competencies in 3 competency clusters that are Interpersonal Relationship, Operational Efficiency and Individual Traits. The study is the first attempt to develop competency model in any textile company and can be useful in implementing competency based HR practices in the organizations. The Repertory Grid Technique used in the study helps in developing competency model in a quick and comprehensive manner that may reduce the time, labor and cost …

How To Conduct A Mini-Ethnographic Case Study: A Guide For Novice Researchers, Patricia I. Fusch Ph.D., Gene E. Fusch, Lawrence R. Ness

The Qualitative Report

The authors present how to construct a mini-ethnographic case study design with the benefit of an ethnographic approach bounded within a case study protocol that is more feasible for a student researcher with limited time and finances. The novice researcher should choose a design that enables one to best answer the research question. Secondly, one should choose the design that assists the researcher in reaching data saturation. Finally, the novice researcher must choose the design in which one can complete the study within a reasonable time frame with minimal cost. This is particularly important for student researchers. One can blend …

The Current Volume 27 : Issue 24, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Earnings Yield As A Predictor Of Return On Assets, Return On Equity, Economic Value Added And The Equity Multiplier, Rebecca Abraham, Judith Harris, Joel Auerbach

HCBE Faculty Presentations

This study identifies earnings yield as a measure of financial performance that is based on a firm’s ability to sell profitable goods. It excludes the irrationality that can confound market-based measures of financial performance by emphasizing a firm’s ability to earn profits as the indicator of superior performance. For the full sample, the differential effects of earnings yield on return on assets, return on equity, stock returns, economic value added and the equity multiplier are determined for firms of different size and volatility. The analysis is conducted both across industries and within the oil and gas, computer software, biotechnology and …

Challenges And Facilitators Of Recruitment: Lessons Learned From Conducting A Focused Ethnography In A Vulnerable Rural Population, Debra Kramlich, Rebecca Kronk, Karen Jakub

The Qualitative Report

The purpose of this article is to describe the challenges and facilitators of recruitment encountered in an ethnographic dissertation study of rural women with substance use disorders during the perinatal period. While the study is being conducted in the hospital setting post-delivery, potential participants who meet inclusion criteria are identified by practitioners through a number of perinatal practices within a wide geographic area as well as by inpatient social workers. Recruitment in this vulnerable and often socially disadvantaged population has been found to be challenging with regard to ethical approval, participant eligibility and availability, practice changes, and discrepancies in the …

Analysis Of Marital Expectations In African Immigrant And United States-Born Married Couples, Evadne Ngazimbi, Andrew P. Daire, Ryan G. Carlson, Matthew D. Munyon

The Qualitative Report

The current phenomenological qualitative study aimed to understand marital expectations in married African immigrants and United States-born (U.S.-born) married couples. Eighty-five African-born immigrant and U.S.-born couples from a predominately Seventh-day Adventist sample residing in the U.S. completed the Marital Expectations Questionnaire (MEQ). We analyzed data collected in response to the first question. Data analysis revealed 12 codes associated with four themes related to marital expectations: (a) Care and Support; (b) Love and affection (c) Commitment and (d) Shared Values. We present implications for marital relationships and future research.

Video: Elder Law For Beginners, Arlene Lakin, Gail Fisher

NSU Law Seminar Series

This particular seminar is designed to educate attorneys about how to be an elder law attorney. Practitioners will learn the various skill sets involved: estate and incapacity planning as well as protection of assets in order to qualify for, or remain qualified for, public benefits such as Medicaid and veteran’s pension with aid and attendance.

1. How to work with senior citizens and their families in a clinical as well as legal format
2. How to determine capacity of elderly clients to execute legal documents
3. How to analyze family relationships
4. How to design an estate and incapacity plan …

Twenty Years Of Technology Integration And Foreign Language Teaching: A Phenomenological Reflective Interview Study, Nilsa Becho Sullivan, Kakali Bhattacharya

The Qualitative Report

The evolution of the use of technology in the foreign language classroom has proven to be a challenge. In this paper, we highlight a study whose purpose is to understand how one retired foreign language educator reflected on the ways in which she integrated different modes of technology in her classroom. In this interview study, the participant discussed how technology has evolved in the span of her twenty-year career as a foreign language educator and how she integrated various technologies as they evolved in her classroom. The researchers employed a modified van Kaam method as defined by Moustakas (1994) to …

“It’S Not A Life Or Death Thing”: A Grounded Theory Study Of Smoking Decisions Among Chinese Americans, Yu Lu

The Qualitative Report

Smoking results in a high mortality rate for Chinese Americans. Little is known, however, about the decisions members of this group make that lead to these unhealthy behaviors. Examining smoking decisions could help us understand these choices as well as develop effective prevention strategies. This grounded theory study was conducted to understand Chinese Americans’ smoking decisions. Fifty-four individual interviews and three focus groups were conducted with Chinese Americans of different smoking statuses. The findings describe five smoking decisions including the trajectory of these behaviors. Optimistic bias is identified as one of the main reasons that regular smokers decide not to …

Screening, Brief Intervention And Referral To Treatment Implementation In The Emergency Department, Arvind Venkat Md, Gary Shank Phd, Sherry Rickard-Aasen, Janice Pringle Phd, William Johnjulio Md

The Qualitative Report

We sought to qualitatively evaluate impediments in implementing a novel Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) protocol into normal emergency department (ED) workflow for patients with at-risk drug/alcohol behavior. From 2010, administrative and nursing champions trained nurses at a single ED (census: 50,000 visits/yr) in SBIRT and incorporated SBIRT into normal ED nursing workflow in 2012. To qualitatively analyze impediments in SBIRT implementation, we created a semi-structured questionnaire for protocol champions with subsequent follow-up. Investigators analyzed responses using qualitative methodology based on a modified grounded theory framework. In 2012, 47693 visits by 31525 patients met SBIRT protocol initiation …

The Relationship Between Near Shore Hardbottom Exposure And Benthic Community Composition And Distribution In Palm Beach County, Fl, Kristen A. Cumming

HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations

Anthropogenic changes to the landscape, storm events and sea level rise are contributing to the erosion of beaches leading to an increase of the sediment load in near shore marine environments. Palm Beach, Florida is host to unique near shore hardbottom habitats. These areas are distinct from the vast expanses of surrounding sediments and play and important role of habitat and shelter for many different species. In this study, remotely sensed images from 2000-2015 were used to look at the movement of sediment and how it contributes to exposure rates of near shore hardbottom habitats in Palm Beach, Florida and …

Revitalizing The Hero Within Teachers: An Analysis Of The Effects Of The Psycap Development Training, Mahmut Kalman, M. Semih Summak

The Qualitative Report

The purpose of the study was to investigate middle school teachers’ perceptions of the effects of a teacher-targeted intervention, that is, Psychological Capital Development Training Intervention (PCDTI), aiming at enhancing positive psychological capacities of teachers. The PCDTI was prepared and implemented by the researchers at a state university in a large city in Turkey during the academic year of 2014-2015. The implementation of the PCDTI lasted for 2 months, once in a week, and after completing the training intervention, interviews were conducted with twelve teachers who were the participants in the experimental group. Data were gathered through one-on-one interviews and …

Life After Nbc’S “The Biggest Loser”: The Experiences And Perspectives Of Former Reality Tv Contestants, Darren D. Moore, Clinton Cooper, Toiya Williams, Kai Zwierstra

The Qualitative Report

Utilizing Qualitative Description influenced by aspects of phenomenology, we conducted fifteen open-ended, semi-structured interviews with former contestants of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.” The purpose of the study was to explore experiences of significant weight loss. We focused on challenges, emotional well-being, and relational dynamics of contestants transitioning through their weight loss journeys, which included what happened after the show was completed. Further, we analyzed perspectives regarding the utility of Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) in working with this population. In the study, three themes emerged which included: (1) Living at the ranch: It’s reality TV, not reality; (2) After the …

The Human Microbiome: An Emerging Tool In Forensics, Jarrad T. Hampton-Marcell, Jose V. Lopez, Jack A. Gilbert

Biology Faculty Articles

No abstract provided.

The Current Volume 27 : Issue 22, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Opening Up About Birth: An Autoethnographic Account Of Prolonged Labour, Petra B. Elias

The Qualitative Report

A woman’s first pregnancy can be both emotionally exciting and daunting. There are many changes to make, but there is little emotional support to adjust to the role, the focus being on the physical process which is most often managed medically (Spear, 2008; Zasloff, Schytt, & Waldenström, 2007) though warnings about what could occur are not routinely told (Kaitz, 2007, pp. 720-721). This paper presents an autoethnographic story of first time pregnancy and the unfolding labour. The methodology of autoethnography is a useful tool for conveying stories of lived experience at a level of detail often previously unrecorded, evoking for …

Use Of Research By Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Qualitative Descriptive Study, Salima Moez Meherali, Pauline Paul, Joanne Profetto-Mcgrath

The Qualitative Report

Research utilization (RU) is crucial to preparing the next generation of registered nurses, since they are expected to stay abreast of research, read and use existing research to improve their ability to solve problems, and make decisions independently in clinical settings. Also, baccalaureate nursing programs often identify RU as an expected curricular outcome. The purpose of this study was to identify nursing students’ perceptions about RU. In this study, we used a sequential mixed methods approach. In this paper, only qualitative analysis related to RU is reported. A qualitative descriptive design was used to address the study questions. A purposive …

Pathways To Self-Injury: A Qualitative Exploration Of Social Psychological Processes, Thomas W. Wojciechowski

The Qualitative Report

Self-injury is a deviant behavior often understood as the intentional infliction of harm onto one’s own body that exists absent of suicidal. This study uses a qualitative methodology to examine the etiology and perpetuation of self-injury using the terminology of relevant social-psychological theories to determine which processes best describe a causal pathway leading to self-injury and its perpetuation after the onset of the behavior. Data obtained from 16 semi-structured interviews with former and current self-injurers indicate that the processes described in general strain theory, social learning theory, and social control theory are all important for understanding the etiology and perpetuation …

The Current Volume 27 : Issue 21, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Frustrations, Fights, And Friendships: The Physical, Emotional, And Behavioural Effects Of High-Density Crowding On Mumbai’S Suburban Rail Passengers, Lily Hirsch, Kirrilly Thompson, Danielle Every

The Qualitative Report

Crammed together in tight folds of humanity, the suburban rail passengers of Mumbai, India, experience the most densely crowded trains in the world (Basu & Hunt, 2012). Whilst the immediate physical descriptors of crowdedness in Mumbai are well understood (Hirsch, 2016), there is little knowledge of the effect this has on the multitude of passengers. This is an important omission, as the effects of crowding on passengers impact their attitudes, travel behavior, and travel decisions. This paper therefore seeks to discern the physical, emotional, and behavioural effects of rail passenger crowding in Mumbai, India. To achieve this, a qualitative methodology, …

Constructing A Sociological Biography: A Surprisingly Complex Autobiographical Practice, Sara Louise Wheeler

The Qualitative Report

Biographical statements are an important part of impressions management in the academic milieu. These statements provide an online presence, accompany our academic products, and represent us in the academy. This becomes a high stakes activity, which can be quite anxiety provoking. As a qualitative sociologist with a particular interest in auto/ biography, producing such a statement really ought to be easy - putting into words: who I am, what I do, and where I am currently located. However, writing sociological biographies requires a fine balance, particularly during the early career phase, when we may be juggling projects, research directions and …

Leaving Home For African Americans In The Emerging Adulthood Era: A Phenomenological Study, Natosha N. Wilson, Joanni L. Sailor, Shaun I. Calix, William Carney

The Qualitative Report

There has been limited research regarding how minority culture youth experience leaving home. Eight African American individuals who had “launched” from their families-of-origin were interviewed. By using Moustakas’ Transcendental Phenomenological method, several themes emerged to describe the lived experience of leaving home. The themes included need for independence, a comparison of privilege for others and oppression for self, obligation to family, and pride in self-sufficiency. According to the findings in this study, leaving home for young African Americans is a culturally distinct experience which aligns more closely with traditional patterns of leaving home. Although the emerging adulthood era functions as …

The Current Volume 27 : Issue 20, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Participant Observation: Enhancing The Impact Measurement In Community Based Participatory Research, Brent Hammer, Fay Fletcher, Alicia Hibbert

The Qualitative Report

Participant observation parallels the principles of community based participatory research (CBPR), recognizing that each community should be understood in its own context. Using fieldnotes from the Métis Settlements Life Skills Journey (MSLSJ) program, the authors explore the benefits and challenges of using participant observation in CBPR program evaluation. Participant observation was incorporated in 2014 and 2015 as researchers sought a complementary perspective and context to determine the impact of the program. The authors explore relationships with a large number of stakeholders (children, facilitators, community members, and project staff) and discuss ensuring the participant observer’s perspective is not privileged above others.

Reflexivity In Qualitative Research: A Journey Of Learning, Erlinda C. Palaganas, Marian C. Sanchez, Ma. Visitacion P. Molintas, Ruel D. Caricativo

The Qualitative Report

Conducting research, more so, fieldwork, changes every researcher in many ways. This paper shares the various reflexivities – the journeys of learning – that we underwent as field researchers. Here, we share the changes brought about to ourselves, as a result of the research process, and how these changes have affected the research process. It highlights the journey of discovering how we, as researchers, shaped and how we were shaped by the research process and outputs. All these efforts were done in our attempts to discover and understand various social phenomena and issues such as poverty, development, gender, migration, and …

The Current Volume 27 : Issue 19, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

A Framework For Using Qualitative Comparative Analysis For The Review Of The Literature, Anthony J. Onwuegbuzie, Rebecca K. Weinbaum

The Qualitative Report

Onwuegbuzie, Leech, and Collins (2012) demonstrated how the following 5 qualitative data analysis approaches can be used to analyze and to synthesize information extracted from a literature review: constant comparison analysis, domain analysis, taxonomic analysis, componential analysis, and theme analysis. In a similar vein, Onwuegbuzie and Frels (2014) outlined how discourse analysis can be used. Thus, the purpose of this article is to provide a framework for using another qualitative data analysis technique to analyze and to interpret literature review sources—a process that we call a Qualitative Comparative Analysis-Based Research Synthesis (QCARS). Using a real review of the literature, we …

Improving Patient Safety Through High Reliability Organizations, Jared Padgett, Kenneth Gossett, Roger Mayer, Wen-Wen Chien, Freda Turner

The Qualitative Report

Preventable medical errors result in the loss of 200,000 lives per year with associated financial and operational burdens on organizations and society. Widespread preventable patient harm occurs despite increases in healthcare regulations. High reliability organization theory contributes to improved safety and may potentially reverse this trend. This single case study explored the introduction of a safety culture and subsequent improvements in patient safety in a reliability-seeking organization. Fourteen participants from a subacute nursing facility were selected using purposeful sampling criterion. Data were collected through participant interviews, document reviews, and group observation. Five themes emerged from an analysis of collected data …