Digital Commons Network^™

Mal-Information, The Anatomy Of An “Information Disorder”, Susan Maret

Secrecy and Society

Mal-information is a fairly recent addition to federal policy and the lexicon of political communication with implications for understanding censorship and secrecy during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper reviews documents authored by IGOs, NGOs, and the US government that mark the evolution of mal-information as true information intended to cause harm. The term, as it is currently employed, is now associated with misinformation and disinformation to create a complex of “information disorders” known as the acronym MDM. In this paper, the creep of the term mal-information and its use by federal agencies such as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency …

A Narrative Review Of The Covid-19 Infodemic And Censorship In Healthcare, Mitchell Liester, Sohaib Ashraf, Patricia Callisperis, Hector Carvallo, Shankara Chetty, Robert Enzenauer, Carlos Franco-Paredes, Raul Pineda, Panagis Polykretis, Rachel Wilkenson, Peter Mccullough

Secrecy and Society

Ideological and financial motivations have undermined science for decades. In this narrative review, we explore how organizations and governments used misinformation, disinformation, censorship, and secrecy to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. Various rationales for employing censorship and secrecy during the COVID-19 pandemic are examined including how organizations and governments create confusion about the risks associated with their products and blame avoidance to shift responsibility and to avoid accountability for their actions. Methods of censorship employed during the COVID-19 pandemic are reviewed, examples are provided, and the consequences of these actions are reviewed. Information included in this review was obtained from scientific …

University Librarians’ Level Of Familiarity With And Use Of Web 2.0 Technologies: The Case Study Of Two Iranian Universities, Hadis Khedri

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The present study aimed to determine the level of familiarity with and use of Web 2.0 technologies among librarians at the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences and the University of Isfahan. This research is applied in terms of its objective and descriptive in terms of its method. The statistical population of the study consisted of 135 librarians working in the libraries of the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences and the University of Isfahan. Due to the limited number of participants, total population sampling was conducted. Data were collected using the “Library 2.0 Tools” questionnaire, developed by Hosseini Shoar and Bahrami …

Spartan Daily, March 13, 2025, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2025

Volume 161, Issue 22

Randomised Controlled Trial Of Lgbtq-Affirmative Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy For Sexual Minority Women's Minority Stress, Mental Health And Hazardous Drinking: Project Equip Protocol, John Pachankis, Danielle Chiaramonte, Jillian R. Scheer, Hadley Ankrum, Benjamin Eisenstadt, Rebekah Hobbs, Hunter Baldwin, Jeremy D. Kidd, Katie Witkiewitz, Denise Ann Esserman, Kendra Plourde, Laurie Drabble, Tonda Hughes

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Introduction Sexual minority women represent one of the highest-risk groups for hazardous drinking and comorbid mental health problems (eg, depression, anxiety). Research has identified cognitive (eg, expectations of rejection), affective (eg, emotion dysregulation) and behavioural (eg, avoidant coping) pathways through which minority stress (eg, stigma) places sexual minority women at disproportionate risk of hazardous drinking and comorbid depression/anxiety; yet no evidence-based interventions have been tested to address these pathways in this population. This article describes the design of Project EQuIP (Empowering Queer Identities in Psychotherapy), a randomised controlled trial of a transdiagnostic lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ)-affirmative cognitive-behavioural therapy …

The Relationship Between Food Insecurity And Emotional Eating During The Coronavirus Pandemic In Northern California, Andreza S.B. Souza, Marcelle M. Dougan, Giselle A.P. Pignotti

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Objectives: This cross-sectional study examined the association between food insecurity and emotional eating and explored correlations between emotional eating and dietary behavior in the U.S during the pandemic. Methods: Participants (N = 515, 77.1 % female, 44.1 ± 14.7 years old) completed a validated online survey between August and November of 2020 including questions about food security and eating behaviors. A multivariable linear regression model was used to evaluate the association between food insecurity and emotional eating. Pearson correlations were calculated to assess the relationship between emotional eating and dietary behavior Results: Overall, 31.3 % of the participants experienced food …

Spartan Daily, February 27, 2025, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2025

Volume 164, Issue 16

Library And Information Science Research; A Scopus-Based Bibliometric Analysis From 2014 To 2023, Khalid Alfouzan, Ikram Ul Haq, Ata Ur Rehman, Gulnaz Elahi, Faisal Shahzad

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Aim: The purpose of this study is to the highlight research growth in Library and Information Science (LIS) for the last decade (2014-2023) at the global level as indexed in the Scopus database.

Methodology: The retrospective research approach has been used on the dataset retrieved from the Scopus database. We used the “advanced document search” technique, selected the targeted period and typed the “Library and Information Sciences”. We chose only “Article” and “Review” from the document type filter and English from the language filter. The selected bibliometric properties were analyzed and tabular demonstrations of the periodic growth with …

Perceived Flexibility And Benefits As Determinants Of Cloud Computing Adoption By Academic Libraries In South-West, Nigeria, Adeniyi Isaiah Kayode, Sunday Adebisi Oguntayo Dr.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Abstract

Goal: This study has examined perceived flexibility and benefits as determinants of cloud computing adoption by academic libraries in South-West, Nigeria

Methodology: This study used interviews for gathered data in a strictly qualitative manner. The system librarians in South-West Nigerian university libraries were the intended audience. Twenty (20) system librarians employed in the ICT department of nine (9) university libraries in South-West Nigeria made up the sample. There were five research questions formulated and answered.

Findings/Results: System librarians acknowledge the benefits of cloud computing adoption in academic libraries. To overcome these challenges, meticulous strategic planning is required

Mobile Technology-Based Library Services In Academic Libraries Of Ghana, Silas Adjei, Patience Adetsi, Isaac Kojo Agyeman

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

In contemporary academic library settings, there's a growing need for libraries to offer access to their resources and services remotely and without boundaries. Mobile technologies (MT) have gained widespread acceptance among academic library stakeholders globally, as they are seen as effective communication tools for providing convenient library services to patrons. This study aimed to explore the potential benefits of adopting and implementing Mobile Technology-based Library Services in academic libraries in Ghana. Conducted as a descriptive survey using a quantitative approach, the research focused on two private universities in Ghana: Valley View University and Central University. The sample comprised 390 undergraduate …

Spartan Daily, February 19, 2025, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2025

Volume 164, Issue 12

Spartan Daily, February 18, 2025, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2025

Volume 164, Issue 11

Analytical Factors Boosting Staff Training In University Libraries In Ekiti State, Nigeria – A Review Of The Literature, Japheth Abdulazeez Yaya Dr, Jerome Idiegbeyan-Ose Phd

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This paper examined some factors that would boost staff training in university libraries in Ekiti State, Nigeria. A review research design was adopted. Training has been the integral part of any organization that desired to be productive in its services; therefore, university libraries have been embarking on training and capacity enhancement for their employees so as to boost and promote productivity and overall performance of their workforce. To this end, the following factors could contribute to staff training in any library especially the university libraries that are our focus in this paper: training budget and budget, conducive training environment, effective …

Staff Attitude, Library Policies And Service Delivery In University Libraries In Ogun State, Nigeria, Ilori Edeole Maria Mrs, Owolabi Ruth O Dr, Oden Abigail N. Mrs, Ogungbade Aderonke A. Mrs

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

University library services aim to meet the information needs of the university community, fostering learning and research. Quality service, particularly in tangible aspects and reliability, leads to user satisfaction. Staff attitude significantly impacts library service utilization, as does library policy, which guides library operations. The study adopted survey research design. The study population comprised 80,247 university library users in Ogun State, Nigeria. A sample size of 1,513 was determined using the Krejcie and Morgan (1970) method. Universities were stratified into federal, state, and private categories, and respondents were purposively selected. The findings indicate high-quality service delivery in university libraries in …

California Teacher Librarians & The Differences They Make, Keith Curry Lance, Mary Ann Harlan

Learning Hub

In August 2024, the California Department of Education released data gathered via its 2022-23 school library evaluation. Following are major findings of an analysis of this dataset focusing on factors associated with where there are credentialed teacher librarians and how their presence helps to shape school library programs—details about staffing levels, library access, staff activities, collection size and budget, and implementation of the Model School Library Standards. Because data were reported by a voluntary sample covering approximately a third of California public schools, the dataset was not adequate to generate state totals or averages. Most responding schools had on-campus libraries. …

Use Of Electronic Information Resources By Distance Learners Of The Open University Of Sri Lanka, Irosha Marasinghe

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Electronic resources’ availability, accessibility, currency and reliability make distance learners use e-resources for their learning and research activities. This study investigated the use of e-resources in terms of frequency, types of e-resources, purposes of use, and reasons to use by distance learners of the Open University of Sri Lanka. The descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The total population of the study comprises 26,503 active undergraduates of the Open University of Sri Lanka. The stratified random sampling technique was used to select a representative sample of 379 respondents. Data were collected using a questionnaire and were analyzed using …

Restoring School Librarians: Challenges And Strategies, Debrah E. Kachel

Learning Hub

The article examines efforts to restore school librarian positions across eleven urban U.S. school districts, despite significant financial and administrative obstacles. It documents strategies used by district library leaders to advocate for staffing, funding, and policy changes, emphasizing equity in access to certified school librarians. Through structured interviews and analysis, the report highlights key barriers, advocacy methods, and funding mechanisms that have influenced school library staffing. The study's findings contribute to the ongoing discourse on educational equity and policy reform in K-12 library services.

The Impact Of Vacations On Urban Women's Well-Being From The Perspective Of Feminist Urbanism, Jie Gao, Deborah Kerstetter, Tianfu Wang

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Vacations are known to foster well-being outcomes, yet few researchers have accounted for the influence of individual attributes such as gender, residential setting, or cultural context. As a result, there is a noticeable gap in the well-being literature concerning well-being outcomes for female travelers whose subjectivities have been shaped in as well as by their residential environment (urban) and culture. Using qualitative inquiry informed by the feminist urbanism perspective, this study uncovered urban Chinese women's cognitive representations of well-being outcomes from vacations. Findings revealed that vacations provide liberation from cultural constraints, boosting of social bonds and relationship building, enabling reflection …

“I Need This Person’S Support To Have A Career” The Material And Emotional Impacts Of Neoliberalism On Trans Collegians’ Classroom Experiences At A Public University, Justin A. Gutzwa, Robert A. Marx

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Neoliberal capitalism has undoubtedly impacted every sphere of public education in the United States. As faculty are pushed towards identity-neutral modalities of instruction, students who identify as transgender, non-binary, or other expansive gender identities (trans) are forced to reckon with implicit and explicit power dynamics in classrooms that prioritize White, cisheteropatriarchal modes of knowledge production in nuanced ways. This qualitative study explores the ways neoliberal capitalism impacts the curricular experiences of trans students by centering the power dynamics they encounter through interactions with their professors and their peers. Findings underscore the pernicious nature of the neoliberalization of higher education in …

Is Buddhist View Of Mental States In Consonance With The Foundational Tenets Of Their System?: Investigating Nyāya And Buddhist Debate On Perception In Jayanta Bhatta’S Nyāyamanjari, Ajay K. Verma

Comparative Philosophy

The first noble truth in Buddhism points toward a purely phenomenal experience. Though purely qualitative in nature, the experience of suffering has an existential aspect. As stated in the second noble truth, suffering has a cause that relates to our situatedness in the world. Notwithstanding, the cause of suffering has to be something external to the mental state of suffering itself. Some of the more recent studies on mental states suggest two different positions on the nature of mental states. One may view mental states as self-referential, reflexive and purely qualitative in nature; alternatively, one could view them as transitive …

Epistemic Injustices In Philosophical Practice: African And Western, Michael Omoge

Comparative Philosophy

Arguably, there is a Eurocentric problem in philosophical practice, which, among many other things, has unwarrantedly given Western analytic philosophy an identity power that governs our collective social imagination regarding the ideal philosophy. In this paper, I argue that in both the African and Western philosophical communities, this identity power makes it such that the African analytic philosopher is the victim of different forms of epistemic injustice. In the African community, he is a victim of epistemic withdrawal and epistemic meekness; in the Western community, he is a victim of epistemic gatekeeping. I characterize these forms of epistemic injustice, setting …

Vol 16 No 1 Information Page

Comparative Philosophy

No abstract provided.

Spartan Daily, January 23, 2025, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2025

Volume 164, Issue 1

Computing Education In African Countries: A Literature Review And Contextualised Learning Materials, Sally Hamouda, Linda Marshall, Kate Sanders, Ethel Tshukudu, Oluwatoyin Adelakun-Adeyemo, Brett A. Becker, Emma R. Dodoo, G. Ayorkor Korsah, Sandani Luvhengo, Oluwakemi Ola, Jack Parkinson, Ismaila Temitayo Sanusi

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

This report begins with a literature review of computing education in Africa. We found a substantial body of work, scattered over more than 80 venues, which we have brought together here for the first time. Several important themes emerge in this dataset, including the need to contextualise computing education. In the second part of this report we investigate contextualisation further. We present a pilot study, grounded in the literature review, of the development of course materials, sample code, and programming assignments for introductory programming, contextualised for six African countries: Botswana, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia. We include the …

(Missed) Opportunities To Build Solidarity: A Critical Analysis Of Spanish-English Bilingual Children’S Books, Claudia Rodriguez-Mojica, Allison Briceño

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Two-way dual language (TWDL) programs have traditionally served white and non-Black Latinx students, with limited attention to other cultures and races. This limitation can result in the erasure of Afro-Latinx culture from bilingual programs. This study explores the ways Black characters are represented in bilingual picturebooks, which can serve to perpetuate or combat anti-blackness within bilingual education. We completed a critical content analysis of Spanish-English bilingual picturebooks that include Black or Afro-Latinx characters, employing LatCrit and BlackCrit theoretical frameworks to explore how Black characters are positioned. Findings show a significant dearth of bilingual books that include Black or Afro-Latinx characters. …

The Data-Driven Library: Communicating The Value Of Your School Library Program To Administrators, Parents, Students, And Colleagues, Shala Howell

Learning Hub

This article examines the use of data dashboards as a tool for teacher librarians to advocate for their school library programs. It emphasizes the importance of linking library services to district priorities to secure funding, increase collaboration, and demonstrate the library’s impact on student outcomes. An eight-step process is detailed, including defining objectives, identifying target audiences, collecting and visualizing data, and publishing dashboards using accessible tools like Google Workspace. By crafting coherent, audience-specific narratives, librarians can highlight how their programs support educational goals, improve resource utilization, and foster collaboration. The article concludes that data dashboards provide a sustainable and compelling …

Characteristics Of World Class School Librarians, David V. Loertscher, Michelle Young, Charlene Peterson

Learning Hub

Over 30 school librarians across the U.S. and Canada and who had been nominated by their peers for their excellence were interviewed as a part of the AliveLibrary Project at San Jose State University. The major question was “What are the major characteristics of world class school librarians.” Each was read and rated by three researchers, and in several rounds resulted in eight major characteristics that seem to undergird high impact on teaching and learning across a wide spectrum of locations, affluence, diversity, and communities.

Archeota, Fall/Winter 2024, Sarah Miller, Kaitlyn O'Dell, Erica Leff, Peyton Walters, Joshua Insel

Archeota

Archeota is a platform for SJSU iSchool students to contribute to the archival conversation. It is written BY students, FOR students. It provides substantive content on archival concerns and issues and promotes professional development in the field of archival studies. Archeota upholds the core values of the archival profession.

Contents

A Tale of Two Film Archives: History and Impact of the British Film Institute and the Cinémathèque Française by Sarah Miller

Enhancing Archival Access with Sustainability: Insights from a Library Scholar Internship at Cal Poly Humboldt by Kaitlyn R. O’Dell

Farewell to Our Winter 2024 Graduate: Interviews with SAA Student …

Family-Level Impacts Of Equine-Assisted Occupational Therapy For Children With Disabilities: An Exploratory Mixed-Methods Pilot Study, Emily Canigiula

Doctoral Projects

Equine-assisted occupational therapy (EAOT) has been shown to enhance functional, social, and quality-of-life outcomes for children with disabilities (McDaniel Peters & Wood, 2017; Prieto et al., 2022). While child-focused outcomes are well documented, significantly less is known about how EAOT participation may influence caregivers and the broader family unit, as existing research largely prioritizes individual outcomes over family experiences (Peters et al., 2017; Tan & Simmonds, 2018; Trzmiel et al., 2019; Xiao et al., 2023). Emerging qualitative studies suggest potential family-level impacts including family engagement, reduced parental stress, and enhanced feelings of pride, empowerment, and connection (Kalmback et al., 2020; …

Applying Occupational Empowerment Principles In A Life Skills Program For Unhoused Transitional-Aged Youth: Feasibility And Early Outcomes, Eriza Navarro

Doctoral Projects

The purpose of this occupational therapy doctoral capstone project was to address a gap in community-based services for unhoused transitional-aged youth (TAY) by promoting life skill acquisition and supporting participation in meaningful activities in order to enhance self-efficacy. This project aimed to design, implement, and evaluate a structured occupation-based life skills program that builds upon existing services at a local drop-in center. The program incorporated life skill education and activity-based, experiential interventions tailored to meet the needs and learning styles of the population. Methods included conducting a needs assessment, developing the program curriculum, and piloting the 6-week program consisting of …