Digital Commons Network^™

Changing Opinions: The Supreme Court After Dobbs, Lora E. Judge

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

School Attendance In Southern Illinois: A Mixed Methods Analysis Of Trends And Implications, Mary Beth Goff

Ed.D. Capstone Reports

The purpose of the study was to examine the demographic data reported on the Illinois School Report Card within the four southernmost Regional Offices of Education to determine the rates of chronic absenteeism. Following the identification of chronic absenteeism numbers, this study sought to analyze the relationships between subgroups to determine correlations within data sets. In order to develop an understanding of potential interventions, interviews were conducted with districts that were both successfully addressing absenteeism and those not experiencing success within each of the Regional Offices of Education. The findings of the study aim to contribute insights for educators and …

Educational Data Mining Techniques To Analyze Student Behavior In A Learning Management System, Mohamad Ali Bin Baba

Dissertations

This study identifies course-level patterns of LMS use in fully asynchronous graduate engineering management courses and examines the relationships between LMS use, course type, student satisfaction, and performance. Using the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework and Moore’s interaction types, LMS metrics were mapped to learner–content, learner–learner, and learner–instructor interactions and clustered with k-means across nine courses. Profiles emerged—content-dominant, instructor-active, and balanced—showing that knowledge-based courses often emphasize content engagement, while application-based courses tend to be more balanced or instructor-driven. Satisfaction correlated most strongly with teaching/social-presence indicators (e.g., feedback cadence, discussion activity), whereas performance aligned with content-oriented engagement. The five strongest predictors …

Public Perceptions Of Sexual And Dating Violence: How Attitudes On Sexual Education, Pornography, And Masculinity Relate To Rape Myth Acceptance, Bailey Lane Saldana

Dissertations

Rape myths are false beliefs that explain sexual violence, and uphold current beliefs on sexual violence (Payne, Lonsway, & Fitzgerald, 1999). These myths can be learned and reinforced through a variety of sources, including formal school-based sexual education programs, pornography consumption, and peers. Through two studies, sexual education and rape myth were examined. In the first study, an exploratory content analysis of state sexual education guidelines was completed to better understand what information and guidance is provided by states to those providing sexual education. In the second study, a sample of 420 U.S. adults completed a factorial survey experiment wherein …

Assessing The Impact Of Social Network On Cyber-Argumentation, Bhargav Krishna Thota

Dissertations

Argumentation is one of the basic activities people perform in our society. People often spend a lot of time arguing about social, cultural, economic, financial, political, and other issues. Existing cyber-argumentation platforms facilitate large-scale discussions among participants and play an important role in the analysis of collective opinions and collective decision-making. However, they do not provide social networking capabilities and are not designed to be used in social networking environments. Social networks in argumentation platforms can reveal the patterns, shifts, and true relationships between the users in a discourse that influence the collective decision-making process, outlier opinions and so on. …

Ending The Cycle: A New Approach To Decriminalize Mental Illness, Paige E. Kohn

Southern Illinois University Law Journal

Today, America faces a health paradox: the nation’s largest jails are the nation’s largest psychiatric institutions. In a criminal justice system designed for punishment, solutions like mental health units or mental health courts try to address this contradiction. Yet, if mental illness is a health issue, and not a criminal issue, then increased investments in the criminal justice system seem misplaced. Instead, a more promising approach is to stop the mentally ill from entering the criminal justice system at all.

This article presents just that: a new approach to decriminalize mental illness. Viewed under an overarching “health justice” lens, the …

Echo’S Repertoire: Performing Science Fiction And Trans Care Models, Juniper Blue

Theses

Echo’s Repertoire is a mixture of a passion piece and a call for more work with performing science fiction. It focuses on interpersonal communication within trans studies and the experiences of transgender individuals and myself. Echo’s Repertoire is also an example of the Lyrical Model proposed by Awkward-Rich as a new model for trans affirming speech. The show is laid out non-linearly and follows along with Echo as he starts to build new relationships with the advice of his spaceship ai, Eep, who is a previous version of himself prior to transformation (transition).

The Impact Of Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) And Benevolent Childhood Experiences (Bces) On The Physical And Mental Health Of African American Veterans, Lenorris Edward Hughes

Dissertations

This dissertation examines the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Benevolent Childhood Experiences (BCEs) on the physical and mental health of African American veterans. Although a large body of research has documented the long-term health consequences of early adversity, there remains limited empirical work focusing specifically on African American veterans and the potentially protective role of BCEs. This study addresses that gap by investigating whether ACEs and BCEs are predictive of physical health conditions, behavioral health patterns, and mental health outcomes in this population.The research utilized data from the 2021–2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), focusing on a …

Beyond The Mozart Effect: How Musical Experience And Emotional Response Shape Individual Differences In Spatial Reasoning, Connor Watkinson

Theses

Research on the Mozart effect (the short-term enhancement of spatial-temporal reasoning after music listening) has yielded inconsistent results, often due to overlooking individual differences and using limited stimuli. This study examined multiple musical conditions (popular lyrical, classical, and white noise control) while considering the moderating roles of musical experience and the mediating influence of emotional responses. Undergraduate participants (N = 162) completed spatial reasoning assessments before and after an eight-minute listening session, alongside measures of musical background, listening habits, mood, and music-evoked emotions.Analyses revealed no overall difference in spatial reasoning improvement between music and white noise conditions. However, substantial individual …

The Role Of Sex And Genetic Background In Early Life Stress Effects On Locus Coeruleus Physiology And Related Cognitive And Affective Behaviors, Savannah Grace Brannan

Dissertations

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have been associated with many neurodevelopmental and affective disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), with more exposures increasing negative risks. Sex and genetic background are biological variables involved in adverse psychiatric outcomes due to ACE exposure(s). Few preclinical studies have properly powered each sex to determine the interaction between sex and genetics on stress-impacting behavior, especially in early life. Females generally have an increased prevalence of stress-related psychopathologies beginning after adolescence, indicative of the adolescent time period as a female-specific sensitive period. To understand the underlying neuronal components responsible for …

Once Upon A Time: A Kinesthetic Approach To Teaching Evidence, Peter C. Alexander, Cheryl T. Page, Hannah G. Chapman

Southern Illinois University Law Journal

This Article describes and evaluates a kinesthetic, simulation-based approach to teaching Evidence at Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School. Departing from the traditional Langdellian, case-method model, one section of Evidence requires students to memorize and apply the Federal Rules of Evidence through a series of five scaffolded mini-trials built around fractured fairy tales and nursery rhymes. Drawing on the MacCrate Report, Bloom’s taxonomy, and Vygotsky’s theory of scaffolding, we situate this pedagogy within the broader movement toward experiential legal education and argue that Evidence—because of its centrality to litigation practice—is an ideal doctrinal course in which to integrate trial advocacy …

Existence, Difference, And The Nigerian Woman: A Feminist Praxis Beyond Patriarchy, Hannah Yemisi Ajewole

Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the postcolonial condition of Nigerian woman through a critical philosophical engagement with feminist theory, focusing particularly on Simone de Beauvoir’s existentialism and Irigaray’s ethics of sexual difference. It interrogates the historical processes through which gender became the basis of hierarchy in the Nigerian society, arguing that colonial and patriarchal override precolonial forms of relationality—marked by dual-sex relationship and age-based hierarchies—into rigid, male-dominated structures of authority and representation. Drawing also on Oyèrónkẹ́ Oyěwùmí’s critique of western gender epistemologies, the work contextualizes the Nigerian woman’s experience within a broader matrix of colonial imposition, cultural displacement, and epistemic violence. This …

Ukrainian Women In The Russo-Ukrainian War: Between Survival And Resistance, Jelena Nikolic Khatatbeh

Dissertations

This dissertation explores how the Russo-Ukrainian war has transformed the lives, identities, and resistance strategies of Ukrainian women. Drawing on in-depth, semi-structured interviews with forty-five Ukrainian women conducted between March 2022 and February 2023, it analyzes how everyday survival, political thought, and civic activism have changed during the war. Using a modified grounded theory approach and a feminist lens, this study examines women’s psychosocial experiences, their evolving political consciousness, and their active roles in humanitarian, cultural, and cyber resistance.Findings reveal that the war simultaneously reinforced and disrupted traditional gender expectations. While Ukrainian women dealt with increased domestic and caregiving burdens …

Using Machine Learning To Predict Maintenance Intentions Of Septic System Owners, Audrey Mccrary, Luna Yang, Allen Berthold

Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education

The scope of literature related to septic system maintenance from an educational and behavioral perspective, rather than a quantitative water quality approach, is limited. The water resources management community needs improved insight into the human factors related to septic system maintenance decisions and identification of effective intervention strategies. Using a modified Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB; Ajzen 1991) framework, the purpose of this study was to identify factors that predict homeowners’ intention to have their systems inspected and pumped within the next three years. As part of a small-scale educational program, a survey was sent to 1,374 homeowners with septic …

The Active Classroom: A Narrative Review Of Active Teaching Methods And The Flipped Classroom Model In Graduate Medical Education., Kalyan Kandra, Praneetha Vennam

Articles

Graduate medical education (GME) is undergoing a significant pedagogical transformation, moving away from traditional, passive learning environments toward more dynamic, learner-centered approaches. This narrative review examines the implementation and impact of active teaching methods in GME, with a specific focus on the flipped classroom model. In this narrative review, we compare and contrast these innovative strategies with traditional didactic lectures, evaluating their effects on learner engagement, knowledge retention, clinical reasoning, and overall satisfaction. Active learning, grounded in constructivist theory, repositions the resident as an active participant in their education, utilizing methods such as case-based learning, team-based learning, and simulation. The …

Designing Assignments For Non-Traditional Students In Higher Education Using Andragogical Principles, Ajit Bhattarai, Beixi Li

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

This conceptual paper explores assignment design for non-traditional students in higher education, guided by andragogical principles. Recognizing the increasing presence of adult learners, the paper emphasizes the need for tailored educational strategies. Drawing upon Malcolm Knowles' assumptions of andragogy, it highlights self-directed learning, practical application, and relevance as key considerations. The paper discusses how assignments can be designed to engage adult learners by acknowledging their prior experiences and fostering a sense of ownership in their learning. This study contributes to the ongoing conversation on improving educational practices for non-traditional students, advocating for approaches that recognize them as students who bring …

Using Constructivist Grounded Theory Study To Understand The Retention Rate Of The School Of Automotive, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Illinois, Lana Rizzo

Ed.D. Capstone Reports

This study explored students’ reasons for returning and continuing their education in the School of Automotive. Therefore, this study developed an understanding of the higher-than-average retention rate for the School of Automotive at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois. This study used a constructivist grounded theory approach, and the data came from semi-structured interviews. As this is a constructivist grounded theory study, the students and I co-created the theory behind this phenomenon.

Aripiprazole- And Lurasidone-Induced Akathisia: A Case Report And Literature Review., Kalyan Kandra

Articles

Akathisia is a distressing extrapyramidal symptom of antipsychotic medications, characterized by a subjective feeling of inner restlessness and an objective urge to move. While first-generation antipsychotics are often associated with akathisia, second-generation antipsychotics, including partial dopamine agonists, such as aripiprazole and serotonin-dopamine activity modulators like lurasidone, may also cause akathisia. This report details the case of a 46-year-old male with treatment-resistant depression who developed severe akathisia sequentially during augmentation therapy, first with lurasidone and later with aripiprazole. In both instances, the distressing symptoms resolved completely upon discontinuation of the offending agent. This case is significant as it highlights that even …

Examining Associations Between Internalized Racism, Psychological Flexibility, And Well-Being Among Bipoc, Cerella Chandra

Dissertations

Internalized racism has been defined as the adoption of negative stereotypes related to one’s racial/ethnic group and associated with psychological distress. There is little research on the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on diverse populations, but recent intervention studies have indicated that psychological flexibility may counter the negative psychological effects of self-stigma. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between internalized racism, psychological flexibility, and psychological distress and life satisfaction among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Self-report data was collected using Qualtrics with prospective participants recruited from a large public university in the …

Predictors Of Cyberbullying And Help-Seeking Behaviors In Rural Midwestern Schools: A Multilevel Modeling Analysis, Ashley M. Harrison-Pavlik

Dissertations

Cyberbullying is a significant problem throughout the United States. Many risk factors have been identified for cyberbullying victimization, including experiencing traditional bullying victimization, social media usage, gender, and underrepresented racial/ethnic status, although the results are inconclusive. In response to cyberbullying, youth may choose to engage in or avoid help-seeking behaviors. Individual characteristics such as age, gender, frequency of victimization, race and ethnicity, and student perceptions of school staff can influence whether a youth seeks help. School level variables, including anti-bullying policies and teacher awareness and perceptions of cyberbullying may also impact help-seeking behaviors. However, few studies have empirically assessed their …

Difficulty In American Dramatic Literature, David Turkel

Dissertations

Speaking broadly, this dissertation explores the marginalization of American drama within the field of literary studies. In attempting to account for this marginalization, theater scholars have tended to invoke the genre’s supposed lack of “difficulty,” meaning its failure to pose meaningful interpretive challenges to its readers. However, this dissertation takes an alternative view of the matter, contending that if American drama has indeed been marginalized, it is not because literary studies departments have regarded it as intrinsically “simpler” than other literary genres; in fact, it is theater scholars who have been more likely to read the genre as simple, or …

Using Equivalence-Based Instruction And Behavioral Skills Training To Teach Social Skills, Alexander Orzeck

Theses

Social skills are an integral part of human life, so it stands to reason that teaching methodologies should be developed to instruct people in this complex topic. One method to teach social skills has been behavioral skills training, in which the four-step sequence of vocal and written instruction, modeling, roleplay, and feedback exposes learners to the social concepts until a mastery criterion is reached. Skills relevant to socialization have also been taught with equivalence-based instruction, in which the concept of stimulus equivalence is employed to generate novel relations between stimuli for the purpose of teaching some skill. No instance was …

A Qualitative Interpretative Meta-Analysis Of The Experiences Of Women Under Community Supervision, Gifty Kinful

Research Papers

Research reveals that women parolees or probationers encounter both challenges and support systems as they navigate their reintegration into the community. More specifically, most women returning from prison and those on probation are released into a society of stigma where access to housing, employment, education, transportation, and healthcare services is either severely limited or nonexistent. These serious obstacles can undermine their ability, motivation, and desire to succeed while on probation or parole. Support systems may be more or less available and effective. The qualitative literature on women under community supervision is large but to our knowledge, the diverse studies have …

Understanding The Experiences And Perceptions Of Faculty Supporting Undergraduate Students With Mental Health Challenges, Jenna Ranee Parbati Jamieson

Dissertations

College is a big adjustment for students, and it doesn't come without its challenges, including being in a new place with new responsibilities. This is a stressful time that presents new obstacles and frustrations that can lead to increased stress, anxiety, depression, and mental health challenges that may cause faculty to engage and support undergraduate students with mental health challenges. As students adjust and transition to college, it is vital for university faculty to feel confident and comfortable supporting students from diverse backgrounds with varying levels of distress. By interviewing faculty, a better understanding of their lived experiences and perceptions …

Maslow Meets Healthcare: Optimizing Cna Training And Well-Being Through Hierarchical Needs During Covid-19, Jose D. Martinez Herrera

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

This study investigates the relationship between motivation, as defined by Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, and the performance of Certified Nurse Aides (CNAs) on the Illinois Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation Exam (INACE), with a focus on the impact of gender and motivation during the COVID-19 pandemic. CNAs must meet stringent certification standards, but recent declines in enrollment and increased demands on healthcare workers, exacerbated by the pandemic, necessitate a deeper exploration of factors influencing their success. This research employs a quantitative, non-experimental correlational design, analyzing data from 411 CNA students sampled from community colleges in Illinois. The study examines motivation across …

The Role Of Cultural Humility In Enhancing Successful Intercultural Relationships, Felix Enyan

Research Papers

In the 21^st century, it is easy to locate a large group of population in U.S America. For society to thrive, a good intercultural relationship is a fundamental building block for societal advancement. However, individuals inherit cultural biases that discourages healthy intercultural relationships. Concepts like cultural humility aid in addressing the status quo. Cultural humility encourages lifelong learning and self-criticism of one’s view thereby acknowledging inherent bias. To remedy the status quo, cultural humility is introduced to intercultural communicators and individuals engaging in intercultural relationships.

Comparing Conventional And Alternative Mechanisms Of Discovering And Accessing The Scientific Literature, William H. Walters

Articles

This study compares the bibliographic and full-text coverage of 15 conventional and alternative discovery/access mechanisms: two multidisciplinary library databases (Scopus and the Web of Science Core Collection), five single-subject databases, the integrated library search (ILS) mechanism of Manhattan University, a scholarly search engine (Google Scholar), two web-based scholarly databases (Dimensions and OpenAlex), two academic social networks (Academia.edu and ResearchGate), and two pirate sites (Anna’s Archive and Sci-Hub). The analysis is based on known-item searches for 875 target documents in chemistry, materials science, cardiology, public health, economics, education, and psychology. Overall, Google Scholar, OpenAlex, and the ILS are the most comprehensive …

2024-2025 Annual Report, Southern Illinois University Board Of Trustees

Annual Report Archive

No abstract provided.

Where Do I Belong? What Should I Call Home?, Viplav Bhaskar Subramanian

Deliberately Queer Journal

Employing autoethnography, this reflection explores the contestations of home-place for queer racialized identities. Tony Adams asserts the vitality of such an embodied investigation when speaking about intersectionally assembled marginalized communities and identities through stating, “I turned to writing stories that others could use in times of relational distress […] by doing and living autoethnography” (Jones et al., 2013, p. 21). In this piece, I delve into my lived experiences, chartering conceptions of belonging while integrating personal stories and theoretical discourses. Such an embodiment, as expressed by Ellingson (2017), considers the body as “simultaneously physical and affective, social and individual, produced …

Pretty And Problematic: The Use Of Music In Guadagnino's 'Call Me By Your Name', Brandon L. Foskett

Deliberately Queer Journal

Tension in the reception of the American-Italian film Call Me by Your Name (dir. Guadagnino, 2017)—as a beautiful film that implicitly condones a problematic narrative—is shaped in part by its compilation soundtrack. Already lauded as a timeless masterpiece in cinematography, sensuality, and music, the film also receives steadfast criticism regarding its portrayal of homosexuality and alleged condoning of interage desire between Elio, a 17-year-old Italian-French boy, and Oliver, a 24-year-old American man. In this paper, I analyze five musical episodes from the film, including The Psychedelic Furs’ “Love My Way,” Ravel’s Une barque sur l’océan, and Sufjan Stevens’s “Mystery …