Digital Commons Network^™

Contextualizing Secure Information System Design: A Socio-Technical Approach, Abdul Rahim Charif

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

Secure Information Systems (SIS) design paradigms have evolved in generations to adapt to IS security needs. However, modern IS are still vulnerable and are far from secure. The development of an underlying IS cannot be reduced to “technological fixes” neither is the design of SIS. Technical security cannot ensure IS security. Generations of SIS design paradigms have evolved, all with their own sets of shortcomings. A SIS design paradigm must meet well-defined requirements, yet contemporary paradigms do not meet all these requirements. Current SIS design paradigms are not easily applicable to IS. They lack a comprehensive modeling support and ignore …

Towards A Conceptual Framework For Persistent Use: A Technical Plan To Achieve Semantic Interoperability Within Electronic Health Record Systems, Shellon Blackman-Lees

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

Semantic interoperability within the health care sector requires that patient data be fully available and shared without ambiguity across participating health facilities. The need for the current research was based on federal stipulations that required health facilities provide complete and optimal care to patients by allowing full access to their health records. The ongoing discussions to achieve interoperability within the health care industry continue to emphasize the need for healthcare facilities to successfully adopt and implement Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems. Reluctance by the healthcare industry to implement these EHRs for the purpose of achieving interoperability has led to the …

Integration Of Simulation Into Healthcare Education Through Applied Constructivism: A Randomized, Switching Replications Experiment, Samuel A. Yoders

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

This report describes the development, deployment, and analysis of an experimental instructional unit using applied constructivism instructional design (ID). The ID template was used to integrate a high-fidelity simulator into an undergraduate health care degree curriculum in a private, not-for-profit university. A switching-replications experimental design was used with random assignment of volunteer participants to initial treatment and control groups. Quantitative analysis of learning outcomes using standardized assessments was performed, including correlational analysis for knowledge transfer of simulator skills to clinical skills. Statistically significant positive effects were found for the educational outcomes of participants when measuring both the knowledge and application …

An Empirical Assessment Of Energy Management Information System Success Using Structural Equation Modeling, Gwendolyn D. Stripling

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

The Energy Industry utilizes Energy Management Information Systems (EMIS) smart meters to monitor utility consumers’ energy consumption, communicate energy consumption information to consumers, and to collect a plethora of energy consumption data about consumer usage. The EMIS energy consumption information is typically presented to utility consumers via a smart meter web portal. The hope is that EMIS web portal use will aid utility consumers in managing their energy consumption by helping them make effective decisions regarding their energy usage. However, little research exists that evaluates the effectiveness or success of an EMIS smart meter web portal from a utility consumer …

The Effect Of Domain And Technical Expertise On The Training Outcomes For Case Management Systems In High Domain Expertise Fields, Steven L. Epstein

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

The successful implementation of an enterprise system requires training and end users in the new systems and procedures. There has been no research reporting a relationship between Domain Expertise (DE) and the successful implementation of an enterprise system. This study sought to begin filling this knowledge gap by exploring the relationship between DE, technical proficiency, training outcomes, and perceived training effectiveness for a new enterprise system, specifically a Case Management System (CMS) in a small and medium enterprise (SME). The research examines different subjects of technical expertise including skills, abilities, and knowledge to increase professional acceptance in the high domain …

Performance Envelopes Of Adaptive Ensemble Data Stream Classifiers, Stefan Joe-Yen

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation documents a study of the performance characteristics of algorithms designed to mitigate the effects of concept drift on online machine learning. Several supervised binary classifiers were evaluated on their performance when applied to an input data stream with a non-stationary class distribution. The selected classifiers included ensembles that combine the contributions of their member algorithms to improve overall performance. These ensembles adapt to changing class definitions, known as “concept drift,” often present in real-world situations, by adjusting the relative contributions of their members. Three stream classification algorithms and three adaptive ensemble algorithms were compared to determine the capabilities …

Gendering Migration Determinants: A Phenomenological Analysis Of Professional Immigrant Women From India, Noreen Ohlrich

Theses and Dissertations

The economic contributions of highly qualified (HQ) labor migrants from developing countries fuel the global talent race. The problem is that little is known about the women in this sought out talent pool. This phenomenological study addressed this neglected gendered dimension by exploring how professional Asian Indian women experienced the following aspects of international migration: (a) gendering international mobility, (b) women and the race for global talent, (c) policies and the labor market, (d) cultural stigma, (e) brain drain versus diaspora networks, and (f) the Asian Indian woman paradox.

Professional Asian Indian women from greater Frankfurt am Main, Germany were …

Chinese International Students In A Northwest University: Investigating Cultural Academic Learning And Teaching Preferences, Michael L. Bevis

Theses and Dissertations

As Chinese international students on American university campuses continue to rise, the importance of these institutions to accommodate the students in adapting to a different academic culture has become more critical. On a public, coeducational research university located in the Pacific Northwest, a concurrent triangulated mixed method research design was implemented to investigate cultural factors with preferred learning and teaching styles of Chinese international students along with what corroborative descriptions these students provide as effective learning experiences in American college classrooms.

The study brought attention to Chinese international students’ differing cultural values from the previous literature understanding, it supported previous …

Graduate Catalog And Student Handbook 2017-2018, Nova Southeastern University

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice Graduate Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Learning Styles And Personality Types Of Freshman Level Pre-Athletic Training Major Students, Marketa Schublova

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the preferred learning style and personality types of freshman-level pre-athletic training students. The secondary purpose was to identify any possible differences in learning styles and personality types of students admitted into the athletic training program versus those that were denied admission or changed their major. Methods: Data collection took place during a college introductory course over a period of seven years. Four hundred seventy-two freshmen (188 men, 284 women; average age 18.66 ± 0.87 years) considering athletic training as their major at a CAATE-accredited athletic training program participated in this …

The Use Of Social Media As A Conduit To Promote Social Justice In The Deaf Community, As A Cultural And Linguistic Minority, Through The Visual Language Of American Sign Language: A Movement Against Audism, Sarah K. Glenn-Smith

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

This research employed a case study approach to understand emerging themes that may be garnered through documenting the lived experiences of online Deaf activists who have used the video feature available through social media outlets, such as YouTube, as a way to overcome the language barrier typically present for linguistic minorities who are leading social movements within an English-speaking, hearing majority. The focus of this study was the members of the Deaf Community that have taken to an online podium in their fight for autonomy and equality. They champion their Deaf identity, their right to agency and autonomy in areas …

Perceptions Of Contributions Of Business Coaches To Female Entrepreneurial Success, Tracy I. Timberlake

Theses and Dissertations

Although coaching has seen tremendous growth and success, it is still regarded as controversial because there is no governing body that oversees coaches or the coaching industry. In this manner, the industry has not achieved uniformity, therefore is under much scrutiny with regards to the validity of the industry as a whole. With female entrepreneurship on the rise, many industry personnel are hiring business coaches to teach them the business building skills they need to start their solo ventures. This study aimed to understand the perceptions of the one-on-one business coaching experience from the perspective of the client. Because there …

Bachelor Of Science - Psychology-_2017-2018, Nova Southeastern University

Undergraduate Programs Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Indirect Bonding Of Orthodontic Brackets: A Comparison Of Positional Accuracy Between Software Vs. Stone Model Driven Techniques, Francesca Scilla Smith

Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Background: Many orthodontic clinicians consider indirect bonding of orthodontic brackets as a method of achieving greater accuracy and effectiveness in orthodontic treatment. Currently, few features of our world have escaped the influence of technology. The indirect system of orthodontic bonding offers an example of technology’s power through a computer-driven system that enables customized bracket placement that optimizes esthetics, accuracy, precision and efficiency. The purpose of this study was to compare the positional accuracy and reliability between traditional and computer-generated indirect bonding techniques. Methods: A total of 210 brackets (STEP metal brackets with slot size .022x.028) were placed using a four …

Investigating Lip Protrusion Aesthetics By Comparing The Facial Profile View With An Oblique View, Barak Jones

Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: Orthodontists strive to enhance facial esthetics. Notable orthodontists including Holdaway, Ricketts, Merrifield and more each made contributions to help diagnose facial disharmonies and improve treatment outcomes. Numerous studies have evaluated the face from two perspectives, frontal and profile. Orthodontic treatment can significantly transform a facial profile. Orthodontic literature has time and again compared photos, line drawings and silhouettes in order to define a harmonious profile. Some have concluded that a more protrusive lip profile than what had been outlined traditionally is now preferred. However, while this debate continues, in this dynamic world the profile perspective is not the most …

Exploring The Multidimensional Structure Of The Wasi-Ii: Further Insights From Schmid-Leiman Higher-Order And Exploratory Bifactor Solutions, Brittany Mcgeehan, Nadine Ndip, Ryan J. Mcgill

Archives of Assessment Psychology

The Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence-Second Edition (WASI-II; Wechsler, 2011a) is a versatile and widely utilized brief intelligence measure by assessment psychologists in a variety of clinical settings. Despite the fact that a hierarchical measurement model is implied in the WASI-II Manual (Wechsler, 2011b) and the scores provided by the instrument, a hierarchical measurement model was not specified in the structural validation studies conducted by the test publisher. Due to this shortcoming, two exploratory factor analytic methods (Schmid-Leiman [SL] and exploratory bifactor analysis [EBFA]) were utilized to disclose the higher-order structuring of WASI-II variables. Results from both solutions indicated that …

Examining The Relationship Between Virtual School Size And Student Achievement, Sherrill Waddell

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between virtual school size and student achievement in virtual schools in a southwestern state. Enrollment size and the following areas were studied in an attempt to determine student achievement: STAAR English Language Arts/Reading, STAAR Math, STAAR Science, and STAAR Social Studies testing scores in regards to race. This quantitative study used nonexperimental research utilizing a distribution approach. The effect of virtual school size on student achievement in a southwestern state was examined. Specifically, student achievement was defined by student passing rates on individual tests of the STAAR examination. This research …

Evaluating The Attitudes Of Preservice Teachers Toward Multicultural Competence, Angela D. Marshall

Theses and Dissertations

Changes in the ethnicity of the student population across the nation necessitated a change in teacher education curricula. This explanatory, sequential, mixed-method study examined how a group of preservice teachers viewed the importance of multicultural competence before and after student teaching. Specifically, an evaluation of preservice teachers’ attitudes about their own multicultural preparedness was made prior to and after being given full responsibility for an ethnically diverse classroom.

The study employed quantitative and qualitative measures to assess preservice teachers’ levels of multicultural competence as well as their awareness of self-perceptions of multicultural competence that contribute to attitudes toward teaching an …

University Research Development Offices: Perceptions And Experiences Of Research University Administrators, Roxana Ross

Theses and Dissertations

Universities are struggling to keep up with the cost of doing research. Some are searching for new ways to improve their likelihood of getting grant funding to support their research efforts. As a function of the academic research enterprise, research development offices and research development staff at universities utilize specific activities to enhance grant funding success and support university research goals. This study examines university research development activities and research development offices to determine if formal research development offices are perceived to have value and what research development activities are most impactful. The issue of fair measures of success for …

The Black Male's Perception Of Academic Success In The Black Belt Region, Lisa M. Morenzoni

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this applied dissertation was to explore the perceptions of academic success of Black males in the Black Belt in an effort for educators and community members to better understand and meet the needs of young Black men. In this study, the researcher conducted one 60-minute interview followed by one confirming interview with nine former students (Appendix D) who graduated from the local area high school. Interview questions (Appendix B) were developed by the researcher based on the research questions in the study. These use of these questions assisted in understanding the perceptions of academic success of these …

Teachers’ Perspectives: Exploring The Reading Gender Gap Among Elementary School Boys, Teleshia Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Teachers’ Perspectives: Exploring the Reading Gender Gap Among Elementary School Boys. Teleshia Mincey-Jones, 2016: Applied Dissertation, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education. Keywords: academic achievement, achievement gap, elementary education, reading readiness, gender differences.

Reading mastery is essential for academic success. As an emphasis is placed on more rigor in education, some boys are being left behind in the area of reading. School districts are adopting new rigorous standards and transitioning to produce students who are career and college ready upon graduation. Girls are responding positively and thriving academically; yet, boys continue to underperform girls at the district, …

Effects Of A Peer-Tutoring System Utilizing Students With Emotional Behavioral Disorders As Tutors And Students With Intellectual Disabilities As Tutees, Vicki Koslin Howell

Theses and Dissertations

High school students with intellectual disabilities often find appropriate ways and times to socialize with their peers. In self-contained settings, students are often limited to interacting with only those within the classroom. In addition, students with emotional behavioral disorders often have deficits in social domains and in self-esteem. Improving socializations of students with disabilities has always been a concern of both parents and teachers. Peer-mediated learning has been a proven effective way to instruct students with disabilities. Placing a student with an emotional behavioral disorder in the position of a peer tutor allows them to feel more secure in their …

Factors That Preclude College Completion Of Students At A Technical College In Georgia, Cicily Mapp

Theses and Dissertations

Key indicators for the success of colleges and universities are the rates of retention, persistence, and college completion (Hendon & Jenkins, 2012; Schreiner, 2014; Yunfan, 2015). However, current data indicate that a large number of institutions of higher education have had to identify strategies designed to increase the academic success of the students (USDOE, 2016). The purpose of the study was to identify and understand the factors that influence graduation rates of students who attend a technical college located in central Georgia. A primary goal would be to obtain information that could be used by teachers, staff, and educational leaders …

Evaluation Of Various Inspiratory Times And Inflation Pressures During Airway Pressure Release Ventilation, Tim Gilmore

Health Sciences Program Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

There are few recommendations on how best to apply certain modes of mechanical ventilation. The application of Airway Pressure Release Ventilation (APRV) includes strategic implementation of specific inspiratory times (I-times) and particular mean airway pressures (MAWP) neither of which is standardized. This study utilized a retrospective analysis of archived electronic health record data to evaluate the clinical outcomes of adult patients that had been placed on APRV for at least 8 hours. 68 adult subjects were evaluated as part of a convenient purposive sample. All outcomes of interest (surrogates) for short-term clinical outcomes to include the PaO2/FiO2 (P/F) ratio, Oxygen …

Inclusive Education In Trinidad And Tobago: 20 Years After Salamanca, Arjoon Singh

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Inclusive education is a worldwide phenomenon. It is a UNESCO mandate, but most developing countries are practicing this new instruction model as a cost-effective strategy to include all children, including children with disabilities, in neighborhood schools. Children who were previously excluded from school are now included as the new norm.

This applied dissertation study was designed to explore the perceptions principals and school supervisors regarding their experiences in implementing inclusive education in Trinidad & Tobago. The country committed to inclusion at the UNESCO meeting in Salamanca, Spain in 1994, wherein the country’s Minister of Education signed the Statement committing resources …

An Assessment Of The Influence Of Functional Diversity And Perceived Information Quality On The Intention To Use Collaboration Systems, Eric M. Spriggs

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

The role that perceived information quality has on the intention to use a computer supported collaborative work (CSCW) system in the Federal Highway Administration is the focus of this study. The purpose of this study was to examine the functional diversity of the contributors in a CSCW as a major determinant of perceived information quality. The study relied on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to propose a theoretical model which shows that perceived information quality influences perceived risk and trusting belief of the users of these systems. …

Organizational Information Dissemination Within Collaborative Networks Using Digital Communication Tools, Cristelia Hinojosa

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

While knowledge is one of an organization’s greatest assets, it remains a challenge to facilitate knowledge transfer between people within an organization. Social influence has been studied in its role of facilitating information diffusion, which is necessary for knowledge transfer to occur. Among this research, tie strength, a quantifiable characteristic of a social network that determines the link between two nodes, has been measured to determine the impact of social influence on knowledge transfer and information dissemination within a social network. Current research that explores the impact of social influence on information diffusion has been conducted within public social networks …

The Role Of Cognitive Disposition In Re-Examining The Privacy Paradox: A Neuroscience Study, Zareef Mohammed

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

The privacy paradox is a phenomenon whereby individuals continue to disclose their personal information, contrary to their claim of concerns for the privacy of their personal information. This study investigated the privacy paradox to better understand individuals' decisions to disclose or withhold their personal information. The study argued that individuals’ decisions are based on a cognitive disposition, which involves both rational and emotional mental processes. While the extended privacy calculus model was used as the theoretical basis for the study, the findings of cognitive neuroscience was applied to it to address its limitation in assuming individuals are purely rational decision-makers. …

Enhancing The Accuracy Of Synthetic File System Benchmarks, Salam Farhat

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

File system benchmarking plays an essential part in assessing the file system’s performance. It is especially difficult to measure and study the file system’s performance as it deals with several layers of hardware and software. Furthermore, different systems have different workload characteristics so while a file system may be optimized based on one given workload it might not perform optimally based on other types of workloads. Thus, it is imperative that the file system under study be examined with a workload equivalent to its production workload to ensure that it is optimized according to its usage. The most widely used …

A Novel Approach To Determining Real-Time Risk Probabilities In Critical Infrastructure Industrial Control Systems, Michael Elrod

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

Critical Infrastructure Industrial Control Systems are substantially different from their more common and ubiquitous information technology system counterparts. Industrial control systems, such as distributed control systems and supervisory control and data acquisition systems that are used for controlling the power grid, were not originally designed with security in mind. Geographically dispersed distribution, an unfortunate reliance on legacy systems and stringent availability requirements raise significant cybersecurity concerns regarding electric reliability while constricting the feasibility of many security controls. Recent North American Electric Reliability Corporation Critical Infrastructure Protection standards heavily emphasize cybersecurity concerns and specifically require entities to categorize and identify their …