Digital Commons Network^™

Small Changes, Big Impact: Affordable Ways To Implement Universal Design, Karlene T. Clark, Hannah Beebe

Librarian Posters and Presentations

Adjusting your library for Universal Design doesn’t have to break the bank! There are strategies for making library spaces more accessible with little to no cost. This program will discuss practical accessibility ideas, including free and low-cost changes. Presenters will also provide aspirational ideas for bigger budgets. Topics include digital spaces, physical spaces, and event planning.

Imposter Phenomenon, Karlene T. Clark

Librarian Posters and Presentations

Imposter Phenomenon (IP) strikes everyone at some point. In libraries, it happens more than people realize. This presentation was introduced as a poster presentation at NDLA 2025 but there were so many questions, it's worth giving more time. This session will cover what IP is, how it may present, what the effects can be on a person and their workplace, as well as ways that an individual and a workplace can help to alleviate someone's worries about their ability to succeed.

Visual Narratives Of Forced Displacement, Schooling, And Re-Settlement Among Refugee And Asylum-Seeking Students In Grand Forks, Nd, Pempho Chinkondenji, Giovanni Whyte

Education, Health & Behavior Studies Faculty Publications

This study examines how school-aged refugee and asylum-seeking students, most of them girls from the "Global South," experience schooling, resettlement, and belonging within the Grand Forks community and the broader U.S. education system. Using a two-phase visual/arts-based participatory design, the research team engaged 34 co-researchers from various countries including Somalia, Afghanistan, Liberia, Burundi, Ecuador, Venezuela, Mexico, and Guinea Conakry. In the first phase, 20 co-researchers aged 14 to 20 took part in a photovoice study, using photography, focus groups, and interviews to document their lived experiences. A subsequent arts-based Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) project extended this work through comics, …

Exploring Rural And Non-Rural Disparities In Interpersonal Violence And Help Seeking Barriers Among North Dakota Women, Tahmid Hassan Jeeshan, Ashley K. Fansher

Criminal Justice Posters and Presentations

Interpersonal violence extends beyond physical assault to include psychological and/or emotional abuse that can produce substantial physical and mental health consequences. Unfortunately, rates of violence have not been directly studied among residents of North Dakota. In this study, we compare victimization patterns, treatment seeking behaviors, and barriers to treatment among North Dakotan women. We anticipate that rural victims will report more severe or chronic victimization yet face reduced access to and use of healthcare and victim services. By jointly considering violence type, rural versus non-rural status, and treatment seeking, this project highlights differences between rural and non-rural residents and identifies …

Information Literacy Through Open Pedagogy: What’S The Role Of Ai Tools?, Virginia Clinton-Lisell

Education, Health & Behavior Studies Faculty Publications

Student engagement in developing open educational resources (OER; openly licensed materials without fees to access) may be critically important for sustainable higher education and for developing important skills. There has been substantial debate about the use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) for the sustainability of OER, but little empirical inquiry. In this quasi-experimental study in the United States, two sections of college students (N = 113) collaborated with their instructor to improve the sources cited in an OER textbook. In one section, students only used traditional library databases to find suitable sources (traditional; n = 55). In another section, students …

Standardized Training Methodologies For Medical Laboratory Science Students And Their Importance For Student Success, Maria Simpson

Medical Laboratory Science Independent Study Projects

Clinical education is a critical component of Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) programs, serving as the primary bridge between academic instruction and professional practice. However, traditional clinical rotation training models often struggle to keep pace with rapid advancements in laboratory technology, expanding professional responsibilities, workforce shortages, and heightened patient safety expectations. The purpose of this capstone project is to examine the key factors driving the need to update training methodologies in MLS clinical rotations and to evaluate contemporary educational approaches that better prepare students for entry-level practice. This project addresses systemic challenges faced by clinical laboratories, such as staffing constraints, heavy …

A Mixed Methods Study: Exploring The Concept Of Rematriation Through The Work Of Indigenous Doulas In New Mexico, Michelle Gutiérrez

Theses and Dissertations

Both the United States and New Mexico are facing a maternal health crisis. Despite significant resources and medical advances, Indigenous mothers continue to be impacted by health disparities. This research study explored the concept of Rematriation, most simply defined, as a return to a traditional and spiritual way of life with respect to Mother Earth or the Land, through the work of certified Indigenous birth doulas in New Mexico. Using a mixed methods approach that integrated a survey, body mapping, and interviews with 10 self-identified Indigenous doulas, this research sought insights and knowledge on their experiences and practices in birthwork, …

Inline Spectroscopy Of Foley Drainage Urine Under Free-Flow And Chaotic Flow Conditions To Detect Optical Signatures Of Urinary Constituents And Measure Urine Quality, Kordell Mitchell Bernaldez Tan

Theses and Dissertations

Foley catheter drainage systems remain largely passive, and assessment of urine passage, drainage interruption, and changes in urine appearance continues to depend on intermittent visual inspection, nursing documentation, caregiver observation, or delayed laboratory testing. Optical monitoring through the drainage-tube wall could provide objective information without opening the closed drainage pathway or placing sensors in direct contact with urine. This dissertation investigated the feasibility of a clamp-on multispectral optical platform for detecting urine passage and measuring wavelength-dependent optical changes under static and free-flowing drainage conditions.The investigation followed a staged medical-device development approach. Literature reviews characterized monitoring needs in acute, chronic, community, …

A Framework For Integrating Virtual Reality Into The Curriculum Of Leadership In Physical Education And Sport Program At North Dakota State University, Justin T. Pieterick

Theses and Dissertations

There has been an increase across professional fields in the use of virtual reality (VR), a computer-generated immersive environment that allows users to interact with 3D simulations (Lowood, 2026), to increase the amount of authentic, practice-based experiential learning opportunities. In physical education and sport leadership preparation, VR offers a way to help students move beyond learning about leadership in theory and more toward practicing leadership in realistic, immersive situations. This study grew from the researcher’s professional experiences as a coach and Activities Director, where he learned that many important leadership lessons came through professional experiences involving decision-making, stakeholder relationships, conflict …

Investing In Tomorrow's Citizens: Exploring Generation Alpha Middle School Students' Perspectives On Civics And Education, Talia Luccia Vazquez

Theses and Dissertations

Democracy requires maintenance from an active, informed citizenry, yet civic literacy in the United States has been rapidly declining while its democratic structures face systematic subversion. To reverse this, educational researchers have recommended increasing time for K–12 civics education. While devoting more time to middle school civics education could help rebuild a civically literate citizenry, public middle schools face the unique challenge of teaching a student population that is experiencing rapid physical and psychological development, alongside a well-documented dip in academic motivation and engagement. Tailoring civics education to be academically motivating to the current student demographic—Generation Alpha—requires an understanding of …

Probative Or Prejudicial? Juror Responses To Disgusting Photographic Evidence, Madison Adrian

Theses and Dissertations

Legal professionals and researchers have debated the admission of photographic evidence in court due to the potential for emotional prejudice to impact juror decision-making. Prior work has examined affective responses to graphic photographs, including anger, sadness, and disgust. However, disgust related to juror judgments has been primarily examined as a single construct, despite research in the affective literature suggesting that multiple types of disgust exist. Thus, in the current study, I sought to address this gap by using a mixed-design approach to examine the influence of two different disgust types, physical and moral disgust, on mock jurors’ emotions and decisions …

The Effect Of Acculturation On Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Satisfaction With Indigenous Populations, Reagan Joseph Alsbaugh

Theses and Dissertations

Past research has suggested that equine-assisted psychotherapy may be an effective, culturally relevant treatment modality for Indigenous individuals with substance-use disorders. The literature also suggests that mental health outcomes may be mediated by an Indigenous individual’s level of acculturation. It was hypothesized that individuals who were traditional or bicultural would report higher levels of satisfaction with their experiences in equine therapy than those who are assimilated or marginal. There were 17 Native American participants who had completed at least 4 weeks of an equine-assisted therapy program who participated in the study. Of the participants, 8 were traditional and 9 were …

Uncertainty And Sensitivity Analysis Of Lithium-Ion Battery Performance With Recycled Materials: A Physics-Based Computational Framework Approach, Abdurahman Ajumobi

Theses and Dissertations

The global transition to a net-zero energy economy is increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and positioning battery recycling as an essential component of future supply chains. However, recycled battery materials exhibit variability due to mixed feedstocks, heterogeneous black-mass compositions, degradation histories, and recycling processes. The resulting uncertainty in material properties can affect battery performance, yet physics-based methods for quantifying these effects remain limited.This dissertation presents a novel computational framework for uncertainty quantification (UQ) and global sensitivity analysis (GSA) of lithium-ion battery performance using recycled cathode materials. The framework combines the Doyle-Fuller-Newman (DFN) electrochemical model, implemented in PyBaMM, with a …

Learning Through Loss: An Autoethnographic Exploration Of Ecological Ethics In Parent-Child Encounters With Death In Nature, Lacey Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

This autoethnographic study examines what it is like to raise children amid climate change, ecological loss, and uncertainty, with particular attention to how parents navigate children’s encounters with death in the natural world. Drawing on three vignette-based experiences within one family, the study explores how a parent interprets, responds to, and guides children’s meaning-making when they encounter the death of an animal. Findings suggest that parents mediate children’s understandings of death through a dynamic interplay of social modeling, cultural transmission, experiential engagement, and guided reflection. Learning emerges as relational, emotionally mediated, and place-based, grounded in everyday interactions and shaped through …

The Role Of Social Capital And Emotional Well-Being Among Collegiate Members Of Greek Life, Sonia Doulamis

Theses and Dissertations

Current literature has focused on the emotional well-being of collegiate students, specifically around feelings of loneliness and isolation, while trying to determine how to increase sense of belonging. There is research that demonstrates the importance of being involved in student organizations, as it can help students be successful both in college and when they graduate. The benefits of being involved in an organization also translate to retention and graduation rates. Research has demonstrated that students who are actively engaged in activities outside of the classroom are able to connect with friends and faculty members, get a better handle on campus, …

Consent Teachings In Sex Education: A Qualitative Study, Andrea Rose Doyon

Theses and Dissertations

The current study sought to qualitatively explore sex educator's beliefs about sexual consent and how it is included in their sex education curricula. Additionally, how sex educators perceived their sexual education curricula and, more specifically how their students responded to information regarding sexual consent, were explored. Overall, the goal of the current study was to better understand the experiences and attitudes held by sex educators in Upper Midwestern schools regarding sexual consent information in their sex education courses, and their perceptions of what role community attitudes have on the teaching of sexual consent. This study utilized a grounded theory methodology …

Cultivating Kalo In Diaspora: A Qualitative Exploration Of Growing And Harvesting Kalo And Its Connection To Health Among Native Hawaiian Adults In The United States, Nicole Lee Kamakahiolani Ellison

Theses and Dissertations

For Native Hawaiians, kalo, known in English as taro, is more than a traditional food; it is an ancestor. As Hāloa, kalo embodies genealogy, cultural identity, and foundational relationships with ʻāina. Today, the majority of Native Hawaiians live outside of Hawaiʻi, yet little research has explored the experiences of Native Hawaiians cultivating kalo while living in the continental United States. Understanding these experiences shows how Native Hawaiians in diaspora sustain cultural practices, identity, and relationships with Hāloa and ʻāina. This descriptive qualitative study explored the experiences and perceptions of growing and harvesting kalo among Native Hawaiian adults living in the …

Identification And Development Of Improved Monitoring For Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions In North Dakota, Lawson Frey

Theses and Dissertations

Wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs) represent a significant ecological and public safety concern across the United States, yet data collection systems in many states remain insufficient to capture the true magnitude and taxonomic breadth of collision-related mortality. North Dakota, where WVCs account for approximately 18% of all reported crashes, relies almost exclusively on law enforcement collision reports governed by high property damage thresholds, a protocol that systematically excludes the majority of species and underestimates total mortality. This study addresses these data gaps through three complementary approaches conducted in North Dakota from 2021 to 2025. First, we conducted systematic weekly carcass surveys across …

On Design Of Sustainable Additively Manufactured Composite And High Performance Ceramic Structures, Awad E Ahmed Elhassan

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents two complementary approaches for developing sustainable engineering materials through additive manufacturing and advanced ceramics. The first study investigates the utilization of recycled wind turbine blade waste as reinforcement in Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) of Nylon 12 composites. Composites containing 5 vol.% resin powder and 4.65 and 18.82 vol.% wind turbine waste were fabricated in both solid and porous configurations, and evaluated for their mechanical, tribological, and surface properties. The results demonstrated that 4.65 vol.% reinforcement provided the optimal balance between mechanical performance and sustainability, while 18.82 vol.% significantly enhanced the wear resistance. The second study focuses on …

Geographic 3d-Digital Preservation Tools And Applications In Heritage Tourism, Ricardo Alejandro Gomez-Nieto

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is more a micro-case study than usual in historical geography focused on land use change, historic preservation, heritage tourism, and informal education at the Grand Forks County Historical Society Museum Village in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The research questions focused on the interconnections of the relationships among people’slocation value, the reinterpretation of the location through historical lenses, and the sequence occupance of the area. The research methodology was grounded in traditional themes of historical geography and was a mixed methods style of data collection and data analysis. The tools of inquiry emphasized the use of 3D imaging, aerial …

Readiness To Provide Inclusive Care For Sexual And Gender Minority Patients In Rural Physical Therapy Education And Practice, Steven Halcrow

Theses and Dissertations

This research examined the readiness of physical therapists (PTs) and student physical therapists (SPTs) to provide inclusive and affirming care to sexual and gender minority (LGBTQ+) populations, with particular attention to states with substantial rural populations. Guided by the Sexual and Gender Minority Health Disparities (SGMHD) Framework, the study investigated three core constructs related to LGBTQ+ clinical competence: Basic Knowledge, Attitudinal Awareness, and Clinical Preparedness. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was utilized, including demographic characteristics, indicators of rurality, LGBTQ+-related educational exposure, political affiliation, generational cohort, and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Development of Clinical Skills Scale (LGBT-DOCSS). A total …

The Effects Of Deepfake Education On Detection Ability And Media Trust, Richard Hawkins

Theses and Dissertations

The proliferation of AI-generated media, particularly deepfakes, has generated growing concerns regarding misinformation, media authenticity, and public trust in digital communication. This study investigates how education about deepfakes influences the ability to detect deepfake and genuine videos as well as trust in media institutions. Drawing on Inoculation Theory, media literacy research, and sociological perspectives on misinformation and trust, this research examines whether educational materials about deepfakes enhance detection abilities while simultaneously reducing trust in media. A between-subjects experimental design was employed, with 220 undergraduate participants randomly assigned to either an educational treatment condition or a control condition. Pretest measures assessed …

Pezuta: Ceremony Assisted Treatment To Promote Recovery Among American Indians, Diana Blossom Hawkins

Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to understand and describe the role of traditional ceremonies and its impact on American Indian adults’ ongoing sobriety and recovery from substance misuse. The research focuses on the perspective of those American Indian adults seeking services from a partnering Tribal-serving organization in South Dakota. A qualitative study design was applied through semi-structured focus groups to better understand relatives’ experiences of participation in ceremony and how it contributed to their recovery. Findings indicate that ceremony fostered healing and strengthened cultural resilience. This lead to recovery-oriented changes that work across cultural, relational, and individual dimensions to support recovery. Furthermore, …

Improving Health Literacy In Diagnostic Imaging For Indigenous Populations: Evaluating Practices, Integrating Policy, And Bridging Gaps, Kimberly Harn

Theses and Dissertations

Indigenous populations in the United States and internationally experience persistent disparities in healthcare access, patient communication, and health outcomes, including disproportionate cancer mortality rates and inequitable engagement with diagnostic imaging services. Communication barriers, limited health literacy, historical trauma, cultural incongruence, and structural inequities reduce meaningful participation in imaging-related care and contribute to delayed diagnosis and poorer outcomes. Despite the critical role of diagnostic imaging in disease detection and clinical management, the intersection of Indigenous health, health literacy, patient communication, and cultural safety within diagnostic imaging contexts remains substantially understudied.

This applied dissertation addresses that gap through three integrated scholarly products …

Understanding Health Literacy In Confinement: Intersectional Perspectives And Criminal Justice Implications, Laura Mishne Heller

Theses and Dissertations

Health literacy, defined as the ability to access, understand, evaluate, and apply health information, is a critical determinant of health and health equity. Although national public health initiatives emphasize improving health literacy, incarcerated populations remain largely overlooked in health literacy research despite experiencing disproportionately high rates of chronic illness, infectious disease, mental health conditions, and substance use disorders. Using data from the 2014 U.S. Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) Prison Study, this dissertation examined health literacy among incarcerated adults through three sequential analyses. First, literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving measures were evaluated as proxy indicators of health …

Effects Of A Rear-Flank Storm Interaction On Supercell Behavior And Tornado-Like Vortex Development In Idealized Simulations, Kyle Joseph Gillett

Theses and Dissertations

Observationally, storm interactions have been associated with changes in severe convective storm behavior and evolution, including the development and maintenance of tornadoes. In particular, the interaction of neighboring convection in or near the rear flank of a supercell thunderstorm has frequently been associated with tornadogenesis. Although statistical relationships associated with these behavioral changes have been established, the physical mechanisms governing their evolution remain poorly understood. Presented are two sets of numerical experiments, each consisting of five idealized model simulations. One experiment set simulates a discrete “parent” supercell thunderstorm, while the other simulates the same “parent” subjected to a rear-flank interaction …

A Descriptive Mixed Methods Case Study: A Culturally Responsive Approach To Contact Tracing By The White Mountain Apache Tribe, Kamellia Kellywood

Theses and Dissertations

American Indian and Alaska Native communities experienced disproportionate impacts during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need to better understand effective public health response strategies in tribal settings. The purpose of this convergent mixed methods case study was to examine the White Mountain Apache Tribe (WMAT), COVID-19 response by exploring the perceived strengths and limitations of the WMAT contact tracing program and describing temporal patterns of COVID-19 transmission in relation to tribal mitigation mandates. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 11 key informants involved in contact tracing and COVID-19 response efforts. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Quantitative …

Impact Of Active Learning On Student Performance In An Introductory Atmospheric Science Laboratory Course, Kassidy Danae Kjos

Theses and Dissertations

Little investigation into pedagogy in atmospheric sciences has been conducted. While numerous studies across STEM disciplines have examined and demonstrate active learning (AL) is beneficial to student performance, fewer than fifty explored atmospheric sciences specifically. This study expands upon these few existing studies by evaluating a diverse set of AL strategies implemented into introductory meteorology laboratories. Five AL techniques (Think-Pair-Share, Game-Based, Role-Playing, Diagramming, and Gallery Walks) were implemented between two semesters across multiple laboratory sections. Student performance is analyzed using the laboratory and its accompanying lecture curriculum assessments, as well as through pre- and post-tests. Results indicate students exposed to …

Bridging Relational And Institutional Accountability: A Mixed Methods Study Of Implementing Sámi Ethical Research Guidelines In Finland’S Public Health Sector, Anna Charlotta Kihlstrom

Theses and Dissertations

The Ethical Guidelines for Research Involving Sámi People in Finland represent a critical step toward ethical Indigenous research; however, a gap remains between these principles and their implementation. This study responds to a research priority identified by the Sámi Social Affairs and Health Committee and examines how ethical research guidelines can be operationalized in the collaboration between the Sámi Parliament and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).

An exploratory sequential mixed methods design was employed, grounded in an Indigenous research paradigm and relational accountability. Extensive community engagement was carried out as a foundational part of the research methodology. …

He AliʻI Ka ʻĀina; He Kauwā Ke Kanaka (The Land Is Chief; Man Is Its Servant): A Qualitative Study Investigating The Importance Of Sacred Spaces And Native Land In The Health Of Native Hawaiians, Natalie Lai Jun Liz Makalapuaikekehau Lau

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: This qualitative study aimed to understand Native Hawaiian perceptions on the relationship between land, sacred spaces, and overall health. The research sought to understand how impacts, changes, land access, desecration, and land loss impacts the health of Native Hawaiians across multiple areas. Background: Native Hawaiians have a deep connection with their land as they believe it to be a relative and an ancestor. Native Hawaiians experience several different health disparities, and these disparities could be caused by several different factors including but not limited to loss of land, sacred spaces, historical trauma, racism, and environmental injustices. Method: Three virtual …