Digital Commons Network^™

Milestones In Motion: Supporting Student Growth Through Developmental Understanding, Olivia Anne Dobrinz

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: Developmental milestone expectations increase in school-aged children, accompanied by growing demands in motor skills, cognition, social and emotional development, academic performance, and self-care skills. Routine screenings through a physician's annual well-child visits can help identify if a child is not meeting specific developmental expectations; however, caregivers and teachers play a critical role in early detection. Early detection and intervention of a developmental delay helps aid in their ability to catch up.

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project is to increase teacher and parent awareness of developmental milestone expectations and to provide them with developmentally supportive activities that can …

A Holistic Program Manual For Permanent Supportive Housing: Integrating Housing First And Occupational Therapy Approaches, Melody Mackenzie

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: Individuals experiencing chronic homelessness often face complex challenges including trauma, mental health conditions, and barriers to daily living. While permanent supportive housing provides long-term housing with supportive services, gaps exist in resources tailored for both residents and residential support staff. Many existing permanent supportive housing programs emphasize behavioral or mental health approaches, with fewer addressing the full range of occupational participation needs. Occupational therapy, with its holistic and client-centered perspective, offers a valuable lens to enhance service delivery in permanent supportive housing.

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop two compatible tools–a Permanent Supportive Housing Residential …

Supporting Students’ Sensory Needs: A Guidebook For Educators Using Sensory Closets, Emmy L. Bishop

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction: Occupational therapy practitioners can provide holistic, client-centered care that considers each student’s physical, cognitive, social and emotional needs. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act considers occupational therapists to be specialized instructional support personnel (Pfirman et al., 2023). Pfirman et al. (2023) demonstrated the need for school-based programming and how interdisciplinary teams can help with prevention and wellness. As occupational therapists, we can bridge the mental and behavioral health needs and the skills the students need to be successful in school and life. Literature also showed occupational therapists work as instrumental and beneficial for therapy teams in providing sensory interventions. …

Enhancing Engagement: Integrating Sensory-Based Strategies For Students With Emotional Behavior Disorders In Genereal Education Classrooms, Hailey Boline

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: This scholarly project aims to develop and implement a toolkit designed to support teachers and paraprofessionals in managing the sensory, behavioral, and educational needs of students with Emotional Behavioral Disorders (EBD) and those who have experienced childhood trauma in general education classrooms. By integrating occupational therapy techniques and sensory-based interventions into classroom settings, this project seeks to enhance students' ability to self-regulate, ultimately improving academic engagement and social participation.

Methods: A multi-phase approach guided by the Ecology of Human Performance Model (EHP), beginning with a comprehensive literature review to identify best practices in sensory-based interventions for students with EBD …

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Working With Children With Complex Medical Needs, Maci Layne Bakken

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: Children with medical complexity (CMC) spend a lot of time in various medical facilities due to their conditions. One of the medical facilities available to families in the Midwest is a respite and hospice home for medically complex children. There are only three other homes like this in the United States. Due to symptoms of their conditions, functional limitations in skill development, and decreased opportunities to engage in the occupation of play, these children can experience occupational deprivation and decreased quality of life. At this specific respite and hospice home, there are many volunteers who sacrifice their time to …

Learning To Teach Digital Literacy: Faculty As Learners, Nicole Marie Maier Derenne

Theses and Dissertations

Rapid developments in artificial intelligence technologies and widening digital divide inequities have made digital literacy instruction an urgent priority in higher education. This qualitative, interpretive case study examined how faculty learned to teach Digital Information Literacy at an instructional development workshop facilitated by academic librarians, following a mandate to integrate digital literacy into the institution’s general education program. Using transformative learning theory as a framework, data were collected from a purposive sample of faculty, librarians, and administrators involvedin the workshop through field notes, interviews, a focus group, document reviews, and journaling, and then hermeneutically analyzed. Findings revealed that although demonstrations …

Teacher Skills Needed For Effective Participation In Multi-Tiered Systems Of Support (Mtss): A State Framework Analysis, Melissa Osborne

Theses and Dissertations

This study is a secondary data analysis that uses a validated rubric to score the degree of alignment between the teacher skills (TS) necessary for the effective implementation of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and the preservice teacher training standards (PTS) across five states located in the North Central United States. This investigation also assessed whether states employing an MTSS process to establish special education eligibility for specific learning disabilities (SLD) exhibit higher alignment between TS and PTS compared to states that do not follow that process. Literature outlines the TS needed in an MTSS framework, but there is limited …

Negotiating Gender: A Qualitative Analysis Of Trans-Parasocial Relationships With Gen Z Social Media Users, Hannah Grace Scheffer-Wentz

Theses and Dissertations

The growth of social media and its functions as an online, international forum has been a growing topic of interest for researchers and the public alike. With the rise of native influencing and the incorporation of “organic” advertising, Social Media Influencers have grown in not just following and publicity with affiliate marketing and brand partnerships, but they have grown in social interest, as well. With the rise in technology and the introduction of Gen Z, who are digital natives, this has challenged previous understanding of online relationships, specifically with the expansion of Parasocial Relationship Theory to the online application of …

Public Perceptions Of Fracking And Anti-Fracking Activism: A Theory Of Planned Behavior Approach And Its Implications For Environmental Policy, Okhumode Hector Yakubu

Theses and Dissertations

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has become one of the most contentious energy technologies of the 21st century, drawing support for its economic and energy security benefits and opposition due to its perceived environmental and health risks. This study applies the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to examine the psychological, social, and informational factors that shape public perceptions of fracking and motivate anti-fracking activism. Using a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults (N = 522), this research investigates how attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and domain-specific knowledge predict support or opposition to fracking, as well as intentions to engage in …

Congolese Refugee Narratives Of Belonging, Grief, And Cultural Continuity In Appalachia, Kayla Davis

Theses and Dissertations

This research examines the communicative challenges that Congolese refugees face after resettlement, particularly as they strive to reconstruct a sense of belonging in the United States that reflects their experiences in either their home country or secondary countries where they endured protracted displacement in refugee camps. Narrative qualitative research methods were used to conduct interviews with five Congolese refugees in Appalachia. Through qualitative thematic and lexical analysis derived from the interviews, the study reveals patterns of linguistic isolation, community continuity, and emotional displacement. A key finding is that participants often conceptualize community not as a geographic entity, but as an …

Understanding Provider Perspectives To Strengthen Materal Care In North Dakota: 2025 Non Birthing Facility Provider Survey Report, Juliana Antwi, Andrew Williams

Public Health Faculty Publications

A survey-based snapshot of provider experiences, gaps, and opportunities in prenatal and postpartum care -- informing the path toward better outcomes for facilities and mothers.

Predicting Social Media Addiction: The Influence Of Paralinguistic Digital Affordances And Cognitive Processes On Social Media Use, Dakota Krebs

Theses and Dissertations

Social media has become an increasing staple in everyday life for numerous people. Yet, excessive and repetitive social media usage may become problematic, to the extent that the behavior takes the form of a psychological addiction. The primary objective of this study was to explore prospective factors that could predict the psychological dependency on social media applications, characterized as social media addiction (SMA). Paralinguistic Digital Affordances (PDAs) are “likes” one receives on social media and may predict SMA via the expected gratification attained when a PDA is received. Cognitive processes, assessed with a general executive functioning index and the n-back …

Measuring The Clinical Effectiveness Of Telenutrition Medical Nutrition Therapy Among American Indian And Alaska Native Adults Newly Diagnosed With Type 2 Diabetes, Charisse Lindsey Holiday

Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 global pandemic was the impetus of the transition from in-person medical nutrition therapy (MNT) visits to telephone MNT. This occurred without evaluation of its clinical effectiveness, especially for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). It is known that in-person MNT is clinically effective at lowering hemoglobin A1c (A1c) and that people with diabetes who experience food insecurity have poorer health. However, research characterizing food insecurity among AI/ANs is limited. This retrospective observational analytical study was conducted at the Phoenix Indian Medical Center (PIMC) in Phoenix, Arizona to assess the clinical effectiveness of telephone delivered MNT services by a …

Creating A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Evidence Based Evaluation Protocol, Mary Redlin

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) in the United States admit approximately 300,000 infants annually (Valencia et al., 2023). Upon admission, neonatal occupational therapists assess a range of factors, including neurobehavioral, neuromotor, musculoskeletal, and sensory systems, as well as family/caregiver interactions and activities of daily living (Craig et al., 2018). This comprehensive evaluation underscores the need for effective assessment tools, efficient protocols, and adequate support for therapists. However, practitioners often face challenges that impact the quality of care, such as limited resources, lack of specialized training, and inconsistent organizational standards (Kaur et al., 2021). Occupational therapy has emerged as a …

Occupational Participation Through Harm Reduction, Allie Reiffenberger

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: Individuals who have experienced homelessness face higher risks of physical disabilities, mental illnesses, and substance use disorders (SUD), which often co-occur, compared to the general population (Mosel, 2024; Parker & Scaffa, 2020; SAMHSA, 2023a). Due to past experiences and unmanaged chronic conditions, substance use, and negative health behaviors are common. The high prevalence of SUD, mental illness, and chronic health conditions in this group severely affects their ability to engage in daily activities, influencing overall health and well-being (Marshall et al., 2020a). While complete abstinence is often deemed ideal, it can be unrealistic for this population. Harm reduction seeks …

Accessibility Of Higher Education: Supporting Student Self-Advocacy, Morgan Diane Halliday

Occupational Therapy Capstones

As of the 2020-2021 academic year, 1 in 5 undergraduate students reported having a disability (National Center for Education Statistics, n.d.). College students with disabilities (CSWD) face social and physical environmental barriers to higher education due to exclusive policies, procedures, and designs. In turn, occupational engagement is decreased, inhibiting participation in education. A college education can support career opportunities, financial stability, and personal development (Plotner & May, 2019). Therefore, it is essential that CSWD have equitable access. Despite efforts from college campuses to become more accessible, gaps remain that require CSWD to be self-advocates. The purpose of this project was …

A Guide To Occupational Therapy Intervention Planning For Individuals With Migraines In Rural Communities, Angelina M. Caron

Occupational Therapy Capstones

One in ten individuals in the world experience migraines (Amari et al., 2022). Migraines are a debilitating condition that presents with symptoms of intense head pain, aura, and nausea (American Migraine Foundation, 2018; Mayo Clinic, 2023). These symptoms have a global effect on an individual’s life and affect the meaningful and necessary tasks they do each day including work, school, family and social life, and their emotional health and cognitive functioning (Buse et al., 2019; Estave et al., 2021). Occupational therapy (OT) can be used with individuals with migraine by addressing factors such as routines, migraine self-management, cognitive strategies, and …

Journey To Understanding — An Introduction To North Dakota Tribes (2025), Cheryl Ann Kary Née Red Eagle, Sunshine Archambault-Carlow, Emma Jean Blue Earth, Carol Davis, Linda Gourneau, Oliver Gourd, Eugene Hale, David Henderson, Marilyn Hudson, Angeline Fourth Iron Road, Demus Mcdonald, Jt Shining One Side, Scott Simpson, Sharla Steever, Nicholas Asbury, Sashay Schettler, Lucy Fredericks, Native American Training Institute, United Tribes Technical College

North Dakota Tribal History and Culture Series

Journey to Understanding: An Introduction to North Dakota Tribes is an introductory booklet intended to give a quick overview of Indigenous culture in North Dakota. It is a starting point for the rest of the North Dakota Tribal History & Culture series. The booklet explains the names and backgrounds of the nations that share geography with North Dakota. It also teaches basic cultural competency to facilitate interaction for people from a different background. The content is presented in the form of self-quizzes with provided answers. Journey to Understanding was originally used within the North Dakota Department of Human Services (NDDHS) …

Investigating Teacher Leadership: A Phenomenological Study On Improving Teacher Efficacy Through Peer Coaching And Mentorship, Orlando Worges

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the roles of teacher leadership in enhancing teacher efficacy through mentorship and peer coaching. It examines the impact of these programs in educational settings, providing insights into their effects on efficacy. Using a phenomenological approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with mentors, administrators, and participating teachers, revealing perspectives on the strengths, weaknesses, and suggestions for improvement of the program. Thematic analysis of the data offered comprehensive insights into the experiences of participants. The findings highlight the important role of mentorship and peer coaching in enhancing teacher efficacy through five themes: Teacher Efficacy and Professional Growth, Transition and Adaptation, …

Identifying The Common Patterns Or Trends That Emerge When Analyzing Past Accidents And Incidents Involving Autopilot Systems, Christopher David Tracy

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated to what extent over-reliance on automation, particularly autopilot systems, contributed to incidents and accidents in commercial aviation. Despite advancements in automated technologies, there is a growing concern regarding the potential consequences of pilots’ dependency on these systems. This research analyzed past key incidents to identify patterns indicating that pilots may have been inadequately prepared to assume manual control during automation failures. This study employed a qualitative approach, including semi-structured interviews with aviation professionals such as airline flight instructors, line check pilots, flight standards evaluators, and an FAA aviation safety inspector, along with qualitative surveys with professional pilots. …

Designing Professional Development In Pedagogy And Technology: A Phenomenological Study Of Faculty Members From Myanmar Universities, Ye Pyae Thu

Theses and Dissertations

Education is a fundamental pillar of national development, with faculty development playing a crucial role in shaping instructional quality and enhancing students’ access to academics. However, for over seven decades in Myanmar, faculty members have frequently lacked access to professional development opportunities related to pedagogy and technology due to institutional constraints such as limited funding, resources, and support. This study examines the lived experiences of faculty members from public universities in Myanmar, focusing on their perceptions of professional development, the challenges they encounter, and the transformative changes they observe after participating in these programs. Utilizing a qualitative phenomenological research design, …

Experimental And Numerical Modeling For Co2 Utilization In Enhanced Oil Recovery And Associated Storage In Unconventional Reservoirs, Billel Sennaoui

Theses and Dissertations

Unconventional reservoirs, such as the Bakken and Three Forks formations, present significant challenges due to their ultra-low permeability and complex fracture networks, which limit primary oil recovery to less than 10%. To enhance hydrocarbon extraction while simultaneously facilitating carbon dioxide (CO₂) storage, this study investigates the mechanisms governing CO₂ Huff-n-Puff (HnP) and associated storage under various operational conditions. A comprehensive approach integrating experimental analysis, numerical simulations, multiphase flow modeling, and geochemical interactions is employed to optimize CO₂-EOR and storage strategies. The experimental phase focuses on evaluating the performance of different injected gases (CO₂, ethane, and propane) in the Upper Three …

Development Of A Climbing Collaborative Mobile Manipulator (C2m2) For Supporting In-Space Assembled Truss Structures, John Robert Isaac Merila

Theses and Dissertations

The Climbing Collaborative Mobile Manipulator (C2M2) is being developed as a robotic system to support truss outfitting operations. The goal of the project is to build a truss climbing robot and demonstrate gaits that allow the robot to reach any point on the structure. The demonstrated motions are compared to simulated joint data. Design and construction of the robot was completed to allow for the robot to traverse the structure and operate as a stationary manipulator while grappled to the truss. A worm gear actuator system was developed for use in three 2-DOF modules composed into the 6-DOF robot. The …

Genetic Epidemiology Of Chronic Wasting Disease And Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease In North Dakota Deer, Ethan S. Baker

Theses and Dissertations

Wildlife diseases have become a critical factor in the management of animal populations across the globe. Such diseases can compromise individual health, reduce population sizes, and disrupt ecosystem biodiversity. As a result, there can be a loss in recreational opportunities which, in turn, can cause economic losses for communities relying on these populations. Effective wildlife disease management not only requires the ability to respond to outbreaks but also the capacity to predict how diseases interact with populations and ecosystems. Due to the complexity of disease dynamics, a multidisciplinary approach is essential for gaining a comprehensive understanding of these systems. In …

Exploring The Experiences Of First-Year Pre-Nursing Students’ Sense Of Belonging In A Living-Learning Community And First-Year Seminar, Robyn Bancroft

Theses and Dissertations

Many factors may influence how a student experiences their first year adjusting to college life. The University of North Dakota, a public research institution located in Grand Forks, ND, recently implemented a nursing living-learning community (LLC) comprised of first-year, pre-nursing students, which also required the students to take a one-credit first-year seminar (FYS) together, known as UNIV 101 – Introduction to University Life. A total of 10 participants who resided within this living-learning community for a minimum of one academic year and were enrolled in the same section of UNIV 101 during their first semester submitted reflection papers. Additionally, eight …

Exploring Refugee Students’ Experiences In Midwest Higher Education Environments: Culturally Responsive Practices For Educators, Rohana De Silva

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined the teaching and learning strategies used by highereducation faculty to support refugee students at a Midwestern university. Recognizing that refugee students bring diverse cultural, linguistic, and experiential backgrounds to academic environments, this research examined how instructional practices can either promote or hinder their educational success. Traditional teaching methods often fall short in addressing the complex needs of this student population. Using Yosso’s Community Cultural Wealth Framework, Bourdieu’s Theory of Cultural Capital, and Resilience Theory, this study analyzed the narratives of refugee students to uncover how their lived experiences influenced their educational journeys. Findings revealed that refugee …

Stem Professors’ Motivation To Engage In A College Teaching Certificate, Justin Craig Alexander

Theses and Dissertations

Despite an expanded focus on educating students in STEM disciplines, nearly half of U.S. college students who enroll in these degree programs fail to graduate (Hamm et al., 2020, p. 623). Critics sometimes blame pedagogically untrained faculty (e.g., Kahn, 2022). This Dissertation in Practice (DiP) focused on STEM university faculty's motivation for teaching and whether professors are motivated to enroll in pedagogy courses. Via the lens of self-determination theory (SDT), this DiP examined to what extent STEM faculty at a major research university in the upper Midwest could devote additional time to pedagogy by enrolling in a college teaching graduate …

Practices Of North Dakota Vocal Music Educators With Exemplary Implementations Of Culturally Responsive Education, Allyse L. Dunnigan

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the culturally responsive practices of exemplary vocal music educators in North Dakota, with a focus on understanding how they implement culturally responsive education in their classrooms. As student populations become increasingly diverse, educators remain predominantly White, leading to cultural disconnects that can hinder student engagement and academic success. Utilizing a qualitative, phenomenological research design framed by culturally responsive music education, this study captures the lived experiences of five vocal music educators identified for their exemplary use of culturally responsive practices. Data collection included semi-structured interviews, analyzed to identify practices, challenges, and impacts on students. Findings reveal that …

Doctoral Student Mentoring: A Quantitative Analysis Of Faculty And Student Perceptions And Expectations, Laura Margaret Look

Theses and Dissertations

Doctoral student success is heavily influenced by the quality of mentoring and advising relationships with graduate faculty, yet doctoral student completion rates remain at a low rate of around 50%. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the mentoring relationships of doctoral students by surveying doctoral students and graduate faculty who mentor graduate students to identify their expectations for the mentor and mentee in the mentoring relationship. Data were collected from 155 students and 68 faculty in the spring 2024 semester at the University of North Dakota, a Midwest R2 institution. Nonparametric statistical analysis revealed several misalignments between …

Mindfulness And Modification Therapy (Mmt) Group Feasibility And Acceptability Among Prison Residents With Dysregulated Behaviors, Leslie Unger

Theses and Dissertations

Mindfulness and Modification Therapy (MMT; Wupperman, 2019) is a transdiagnostic therapy that systematically integrates aspects of six empirically supported treatments for impulsive and dysregulated behavior. As such, MMT may offer an efficient approach to addressing a variety of dysregulated behaviors, thereby supporting increased safety within carceral settings and enhancing goals of rehabilitation. To date, MMT has demonstrated positive results in community settings when treating substance misuse and anger/aggression, but it has not yet been examined in a prison setting. The present research examines the feasibility and acceptability of using a 14-session version of group MMT as a voluntary treatment option …