Digital Commons Network^™

An Empirical Investigation Into The Role That Boredom, Relationships, Anxiety, And Gratification (Brag) Play In A Driver’S Decision To Text, Nathan White

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

Texting while driving is a growing problem that has serious, and sometimes fatal, consequences. Despite laws enacted to curb this behavior, the problem continues to grow. Discovering factors that can reduce such risky behavior can significantly contribute to research, as well as save lives and reduce property damage. This study developed a model to explore the motivations that cause a driver to send messages. The model evaluates the effects that boredom, social relationships, social anxiety, and social gratification (BRAG) have upon a driver’s frequency of typing text messages. In addition, the perceived severity of the consequences and the presence of …

A Predictive Modeling System: Early Identification Of Students At-Risk Enrolled In Online Learning Programs, Mary L. Fonti

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

Predictive statistical modeling shows promise in accurately predicting academic performance for students enrolled in online programs. This approach has proven effective in accurately identifying students who are at-risk enabling instructors to provide instructional intervention. While the potential benefits of statistical modeling is significant, implementations have proven to be complex, costly, and difficult to maintain. To address these issues, the purpose of this study is to develop a fully integrated, automated predictive modeling system (PMS) that is flexible, easy to use, and portable to identify students who are potentially at-risk for not succeeding in a course they are currently enrolled in. …

College Of Engineering And Computing Graduate Catalog, Nova Southeastern University

College of Engineering and Computing Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Mindfulness In Parenting Questionnaire (Mipq): Development And Validation Of A Measure Of Mindful Parenting, Stacey Mccaffrey

Theses and Dissertations

Mindful parenting has been defined as “paying attention to your child and your parenting in a particular way: intentionally, here and now, and non-judgmentally” (Kabat-Zinn & Kabat-Zinn, 1997). Although it is hypothesized that increasing mindful parenting improves parent and child functioning, the development of a measure of mindful parenting is needed to support this assumption. The aim of the present study was to develop and psychometrically evaluate a measure of mindful parenting (the Mindfulness In Parenting Questionnaire: MIPQ) for use with mothers and fathers of both children and adolescents, ranging in age from 2- to 16-years-old. The current study contained …

Examing Positive Psychological Constructs In The Context Of 12-Step Recovery, Danielle Bietra

Theses and Dissertations

Twelve step organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are free, community-based fellowships. Such organizations are the most widely sought recovery management options, surpassing professional treatment. The emerging evidence base suggests that involvement in such organizations is associated with positive substance-related outcomes (e.g., abstinence). Relatively speaking, however, far less is known about whether or not involvement is associated with other meaningful psychosocial constructs. The current study examined gratitude, meaning in life, life satisfaction, personal growth, and various other recovery and psychosocial constructs in a sample of self-identified NA members (N = 128) from 26 U.S. states, ranging in age …

Phenomenological Study Of At-Risk Youth Attending An Alternative Education Residential Program, Valeria Meschelle Harris-Richard

Theses and Dissertations

At-risk youth are the population of students who cannot manage to conform to the traditional school expectations due to their behavior choices. However, their choices are reflections of both avoidable and unavoidable conditions and circumstances. The bottom line is that those conditions usually lead them to drop out of school. There are several factors that contribute to why youth drop out of school. While some factors are more obvious than others, the overall goal should be to minimize factors that are within the control of stakeholders and decision makers so that youth have opportunities to complete high school with a …

A Gift Of Nature And The Source Of Violent Conflict: Land And Boundary Disputes In The North West Region Of Cameroon The Case Of Balikumbat And Bafanji, Moise Oneke Arrah

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

Balikumbat and Bafanji are the names of two villages in the Northwest Region of Cameroon that have been warring against one another over Bangang, a tract of fertile land. The conflict hinges on perceived differences about who should have access to this fertile land. Both villages claim ownership. This conflict has persisted from colonial times to the present with no tangible resolution. Understanding the place of land within the political, social, and economic fabric of the lives of both villages prior to and after the arrival of the colonial administration is the centerpiece of this research endeavor. This study sheds …

Constructing Development: A Caribbean-Centered Approach For Security And Growth, Paula Lynne Lockhart

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

For a long time, the Caribbean has experienced underdevelopment even as there have been improvements in living standards. A region is directly linked to the wider global system with historical significances spanning much of the globe, it is important to address this “mis-development” phenomenon in order to advance development that can sustain human security and peace. The case study method employed in this dissertation allowed the opportunity to assess the progress of the issue of peace and development as it occurs across the region. This study tests the development outcome of a number of cases in light of the Millennium …

Examining The Security Awareness, Information Privacy, And The Security Behaviors Of Home Computer Users, Keith Edwards

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

Attacks on computer systems continue to be a problem. The majority of the attacks target home computer users. To help mitigate the attacks some companies provide security awareness training to their employees. However, not all people work for a company that provides security awareness training and typically, home computer users do not have the incentive to take security awareness training on their own. Research in security awareness and security behavior has produced conflicting results. Therefore, it is not clear, how security aware home computer users are or to what extent security awareness affects the security behavior of home computer users. …

The State Of Mobile Learning Implementation In Government Cabinet-Level Agencies And Departments, Algernon B. Corbett

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

As mobile technologies have increasingly become a part of personal and work environments, mobile learning is emerging as a viable alternative for training and education needs. Faced with the need for innovative and cost-efficient ways for training government employees, agencies and departments are considering the use of mobile learning. The availability of a wide range of mobile technology provides many options. Other than the Department of Defense, little is known about implementing mobile learning in United States government cabinet level agencies and departments. A concurrent, mixed methods case study was used to examine how organizations decide to use, implement and …

Between Warrior And Helplessness In The Valley Of Azawa - The Struggle Of The Kel Tamashek In The War Of The Sahel, Patrick James Christian

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is an Investigation into the Tuareg involvement in violent conflict in the Sahara and the Sahel of North Africa from a sociological psychological perspective of unmet human needs. The research begins by establishing the structure and texture of the sociological, psychological, and emotional life patterns of their existence when not involved in violent conflict. This is followed by an examination of the pathology of Tuareg social structures that are engaged in intra and inter communal violence as perpetrators, victims, and bystanders. The first part of the research establishes normal conditions of the sociological life cycle and highlights natural …

Tweeting Away Our Blues: An Interpretative Phenomenological Approach To Exploring Black Women's Use Of Social Media To Combat Misogynoir, Kelly Macias

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

In the age of social media, many Black women use online platforms and social networks as a means of connecting with other Black women and to share their experiences of social oppression and misogynoir, anti-Black misogyny. Examining the ways that Black women use technology as a tool to actively wage resistance to racial, gender and class oppression is critical for understanding their role in the human struggle for greater peace, beauty, freedom and justice. This study explored the experiences of 12 Black women in the United States and Britain who use social media for storytelling and testimony about their lives …

Afghan Muslim Male Interpreters And Translators: An Examination Of Their Identity Changes And Lived Experiences During Pre And Post-Immigration To The United States During The Afghanistan War (2003-2012), Michael Tyrone Solomon

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

This research examined the lived experiences of an Afghan Muslim male participant group. This study explored their immigration from a Southwest-Asian, highly non-secular society to a Western-style, liberal, secular nation-state. Further, this research was an examination of Muslim male identity as an attribute that is closely related to lived experiences, environment and cultural assimilation. Also, this study looked closely at the meanings that this Afghan Muslim male immigrant group attached to identity, as well as exploring their unique narratives during pre-immigration and post-immigration periods. This qualitative research study used narrative methods to unearth the lived experiences of five Afghan Muslim …

Nation-State Personality Theory: A Qualitative Comparative Historical Analysis Of Russian Behavior, During Social/Political Transition, Mark George Bound

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

The study theorizes that a nation-state can manifest a condition similar to that of personality commonly associated with humans. Through the identification of consistent behaviors, a personality like condition is recognizable, and the underlining motivations dictate national policy independent of any current social/political influence. The research examines Russia during two historical periods examining the conflict events and social/political transitions of the period, to identify common behavioral characteristics, which indicate the existence of any independent personality like trait.

The study focuses on two historical periods: the Monarch Period of Peter I (The Great), and the Post-Soviet Union period of Vladimir Putin, …

Transition To Independence: A Phenomenological Study Of Foster Care Alumni Pursuing A College Degree, Erica W. Martin

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explored the experiences of foster care alumni pursuing a college degree and the perceptions and meanings they attribute to those experiences. This phenomenological study explored the conflicts that may impair foster care alumni from achieving postsecondary educational goals. The researcher conducted face-to-face interviews with 10 foster care alumni in the Central Florida area. The findings were based on the following research question: What are the obstacles to postsecondary achievement for foster care alumni who are currently pursuing or would like to pursue a degree at a two-or-four-year university? Scholarly literature and four theoretical frameworks support the analysis of …

The Lived Experience Of Witnessing Bullying In The Workplace: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Angela E. Dash

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

Bullying in the workplace is prevalent in the United States and its impact is harmful not only to targets, but to the organization and its members. Through exploring the experiences of employees who self- identify with having witnessed bullying in the workplace, this transcendental phenomenological study was guided by the following two-part research question: “What is the experience of witnessing bullying in the workplace and how do participants describe their organizations where workplace bullying was witnessed?” The carefully constructed wording of my research question indicates that I was not searching for causal relationships. Instead, I was open to whatever came …

Transcending Thresholds: A Phenomenological Study Of How African American Women Working In The Federal Government Experience Professional Development, Betsy A. Kelly Bell

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the professional development experiences of federally employed African American women and to discover whether and how they perceive race and gender as informing their professional development. The researcher used an existential phenomenological approach, guided by the following research questions: what are the professional development experiences of African American women working in the federal government?; what, if any, challenges to professional development have been experienced by this population, and what meaning do they find in those experiences?; and what are the perceptions of this population regarding how social-organizational constructs inform their professional …

A Study Of Assistive Technology Competencies Of Specialists In Public Schools, Betsy B. Burgos

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

Despite the rapid proliferation of assistive technology implementation, studies have revealed that a number of professionals that provide assistive technology services do not have adequate competencies to recommend and deliver assistive technologies in school settings. The purpose of the study was to examine the competencies of assistive technology specialists in Florida K-12 public schools, and identify training opportunities that may have helped them achieve professional competence in the evaluation and provision of assistive technology devices and services across AT service providers from different preparations.

The study applied quantitative and qualitative methods to determine answers to the following six research questions: …

Seniors With Diabetes-Investigation Of The Impact Of Semantic Auditory Distractions On The Usability Of A Blood Glucose Tracking Mobile Application, Jose A. Rivera Rodriguez

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. With the population rapidly aging, it is expected that 1 out of 3 Americans will have diabetes by 2050. Mobile devices and mobile applications have the potential to contribute to diabetes self-care by allowing users to manage their diabetes by keeping track of their blood glucose levels. Usability is important for systems that help people self-manage conditions such as diabetes. Age and diabetes-related cognitive decline might intensify the impact of usability issues for the users who need these mobile applications the most. As highlighted by usability researchers, the …

Virtue Ethics: Examining Influences On The Ethical Commitment Of Information System Workers In Trusted Positions, John Max Gray

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

Despite an abundance of research on the problem of insider threats, only limited success has been achieved in preventing trusted insiders from committing security violations. Virtue ethics may be an approach that can be utilized to address this issue. Human factors such as moral considerations impact Information System (IS) design, use, and security; consequently they affect the security posture and culture of an organization. Virtue ethics based concepts have the potential to influence and align the moral values and behavior of information systems workers with those of an organization in order to provide increased protection of IS assets. An individual’s …

Full Issue, Digressions

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Stuck In Freedom, Maheen Dhanani

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

H. Wayne Huizenga College Of Business And Entrepreneurship 2015-2016 Graduate Catalog, Nova Southeastern University

Huizenga Postgraduate Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

2015-2016 Student Handbook, Nova Southeastern University

Huizenga Postgraduate Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Identity: Societal And Legal Ramifications With Special Focus On Transsexuals, Dr. Nancie Palmer Ph.D, Acsw/Lmsw, Charlene L. Smith M.A., J.D., Llm, Tova Verchow J.D. Candidate, 2015, Jennifer Dale J.D. Candidate, 2015

Nova Law Review

The law is stuck on binary or categorical approaches.2 One is either

this or that—heterosexual or homosexual; male or female; black or white;

and the list can go on and on.3 This article posits that this approach should

not be the way in which we categorize people’s personhood

Getting Your Case Into Federal Court: A Comprehensive Guide To Diversity Jurisdiction In The Eleventh Circuit, Susan D. Landrum

Nova Law Review

One of the most basic tenets of federal judicial law is that a federal

court must have subject matter jurisdiction in order to hear a case.1 Subject

matter jurisdiction is conferred upon the courts by the U.S. Constitution or

federal statutes.

The Use Of Restraint And Seclusion On Disabled Students Is A Violation Of Their Procedural And Sustantive Due Process Rights, Jennifer Noud

Nova Law Review

In public and private schools, disabled children are being restrained

and secluded against their will.1 One Florida disabled student was restrained

in a hot dog roll, which is when teachers roll the student up in blankets

Nova Law Review Full Issue

Nova Law Review

No abstract provided.

Introduction To New Media And Old Metaphors 2015 Nova Law Review Symposium, Jon M. Garon

Nova Law Review

The medium, or process, of our time—electric technology is

reshaping and restructuring patterns of social interdependence and every

aspect of our personal life.

Nova Law Review Full Issue

Nova Law Review

No abstract provided.