Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

Facilitating Conditions And Gender Gaps: Predicting Intention To Adopt Digital Education Resources Among Teachers, Bijaya Shrestha, Virginia Clinton-Lisell

Education, Health & Behavior Studies Student Publications

This study examined factors shaping school teachers’ intention to adopt Digital Educational Resources (DER) in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). Factors included were performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, and behavioural intention. Fifty-six (56) teachers completed an online survey measuring those factors. Among all the factors, facilitating conditions were the marginally significant positive predictor of behavioural intention to adopt DER. Male teachers reported marginally higher behavioural intention (p =.05) to adopt DER compared to female teachers. However, gender was not a significant moderator in relationship between behavioural intention …

Mother Of Mine, Liv Schlosser

Floodwall Magazine

No abstract provided.

Scary Stories, Liv Schlosser

Floodwall Magazine

No abstract provided.

Take A Bite, Shawn Sullivan

Floodwall Magazine

No abstract provided.

The Color Yellow, Liv Schlosser

Floodwall Magazine

No abstract provided.

Average, Maddeline Borkhuis

Floodwall Magazine

No abstract provided.

Glacier In September, Rylee Lunnie

Floodwall Magazine

No abstract provided.

Poetry As Performance: The Case For "Camp" In Catullus, Jasmine Patera

Floodwall Magazine

No abstract provided.

Below The Surface, Sammi Weber

Floodwall Magazine

No abstract provided.

Examining Connections Between Off-Reservation Boarding Schools And Contemporary Mental Health Crises In Indigenous Communities, Amelia Benware

Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Showcase

Intergenerational trauma in Indigenous communities dates to the early fifteenth century with the beginning of European colonization and continues to affect Indigenous communities through the present day. This project specifically examines the manifestations of intergenerational trauma in the Lakota community throughout North Dakota stemming from the off-reservation boarding school era. This research relied on a collection of oral histories gathered between 2016 and 2020 of enrolled members of the Lakota community who shared their personal experiences of coping with intergenerational trauma, and that of their close family and friends. This research establishes interdisciplinary connections among the fields of history, psychology, …

Self-Care: A Beneficial Intervention For Nursing Faculty, Paige Baade

Nursing Capstones

Burnout among nursing faculty is a growing concern that impacts job satisfaction, well-being, and the ability to effectively educate future nurses. The purpose of this project was to investigate the impact of self-care on nursing faculty stress and burnout levels, overall well-being, and job satisfaction by comparing pre-test and post-test results after regular self-care implementation. This quasi-experimental project was conducted in a Midwest undergraduate nursing program and the sample included full-time nursing faculty who voluntarily participated. Data was collected through a survey to measure perceived stress, well-being, and job satisfaction, and degrees of burnout. Results indicated modest improvements in perceived …

The Relationship Between Sleep And Mental Health, Lily Faucher

Psychology Student Publications

This paper looks at the relationship between sleep and mental health across the lifespan. Sleep is an essential process for our bodies to function. Understanding this relationship between sleep and mental health can help individuals to choose healthy habits and prioritize sleep as it is an important part of overall wellbeing.

Mapping Unmanned Warfare: Analyzing Drone Usage In The Russo-Ukrainian War Using Open-Source Social Media Data, Kayla Barral, Carter Pedersen, Elise Stevens

Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Showcase

The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, has expanded significantly in modern warfare, reshaping operational dynamics by enabling precision strikes while reducing personnel risk. At the same time, the growth of open-source and social media–based reporting has created new opportunities to analyze military activity through publicly available information. This study examines whether patterns in social media–reported drone strikes can provide meaningful insights into operational behavior in the Russia–Ukraine war.

Using open-source intelligence (OSINT) collected from Telegram posts between September and October 2025, this research compiles documented drone strike events conducted by both Ukrainian and Russian forces. Much of …

Spring Graduate School Commencement: May 16, 2026, University Of North Dakota

UND Commencement Programs

UND Spring Graduate School Commencement program from May 16, 2026.

Nature As The Foundation: A Shift In Pedagogy, Mary Moroney-Fernandez

The Cicadian

Somewhere in the United States right now, a child is sitting beneath fluorescent lights while the world outside continues without her. This paper argues that her confinement is not accidental, but rather theoretical. Examining the divergent frameworks of Friedrich Fröbel and Jean Piaget, it traces how American public schooling absorbed a vision of learning organized around cognitive individualism while displacing Fröbel's relational vision of child and nature. Drawing on reflection, historical analysis, and research, this paper contends that lasting reform requires confronting the foundational assumptions that built the classroom in the first place.

Assessing The Preparedness Of New Graduate Physical Therapists For Primary Care Physical Therapy Roles, Hannah Ellen Snobeck, Olivia Mavis Manuel, Rachel Jean Dukart, Samantha Marie Krogfoss, Logan Nicole Redding, Haley Paige Hase, Reese Paige Richards

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: The growing shortage of primary care providers in the United States has led to increased discussion about expanding the role of physical therapists (PTs) in primary care. Physical therapists have advanced diagnostic and musculoskeletal expertise that helps them succeed in these roles. This study aimed to assess how new graduates perceive their readiness to practice as primary care providers and to identify the education and experiential factors that shape this.

Methods: Using a qualitative research design guided by self-perception theory, semi-structured interviews were conducted with three physical therapists who graduated between 2022 and 2024. Participants were asked …

Cardiovascular Health Outcomes In Senior Athletes: A Comparative Study Of Pickleball And Other Recreational Sports, Breana Alise Tretter, Lynsay Leilani Benson, John Thomas Polejewski, Jeremiah Sanders Talley

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Pickleball has grown rapidly in popularity among older adults and is often promoted as a beneficial form of exercise for cardiovascular health. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether senior athletes who participate in pickleball exhibit significantly better cardiovascular fitness compared to peers participating in other sports at the North Dakota Senior Games.

Methods: The data was collected through the Sustained Athlete Fitness Exam (SAFE), a multi-component fitness screening conducted by the University of North Dakota’s Physical Therapy Department. The screening included assessments of vital signs, body mass index (BMI), and mobility. Participants voluntarily enrolled …

The Reason To The Rhythm: The Impact Of Music Training On Cognitive Development, Gretta Gebhard

Psychology Student Publications

Musical training is often associated with growth artistically, however its influence reaches beyond artistry into further advancement of cognitive development. This paper explores the extent of the benefits that learning to play an instrument can have on a child’s developing mind through various executive functioning, attention control, memory processing, and language based skills.

Is It Altruism Or Codependency? A Dive Into Our Relationships With Others, Livia Dietrich

Psychology Student Publications

Codependency is characterized by the tendency to put others’ needs ahead of your own. It can affect anyone; but is typically most common in mothers. This paper explores many reasons someone may fall into these patterns, such as low self-esteem or an abusive partner. Trends of relationships in one’s past, like their relationship with their parents, could also affect the likelihood of codependent tendencies. These examinations can help to identify what codependency looks like in order to repair relationships moving forward

The Effect Of Background Music On Reading Comprehension, Erika Murry

Psychology Student Publications

This paper reviews recent findings by researchers surrounding the relationship between listening to background music and reading comprehension. Tempo, lyrics and mode are examined, as well as several confounding factors.

The Effects Anorexia Nervosa Has On Cognitive Function, Gracie Jensen

Psychology Student Publications

This paper examines the effects of anorexia nervosa on cognitive function and how it impacts children and adolescents' everyday lives. It highlights the importance of increased awareness and support for the individuals affected by the disorder.

Helping Others To Help Yourself: Effects Of Prosocial Behavior On Anxiety And Depression, Matheus Muniz Pereira Vargas

Psychology Student Publications

Helping others is a good way to help prevent psychological disorders. The literature reviewed here points towards a protective and mitigating effect on symptoms of anxiety and depression brought upon by prosocial behaviors. Prosocial behavior is associated with higher positive moods in participants with depression (Schacter & Margolin, 2019), it is negatively correlated with feelings of reported rates of depression, anxiety and isolation (Naclerio et al., 2026), and seems to have a protective effect against development and exacerbation of anxiety (Okuyucu et al., 2024). All of that indicates that encouraging these behaviors lead to more positive mental health outcomes without …

Effective Interventions On Gambling Disorder While Reducing Social Stigma, Kayla Tretter

Psychology Student Publications

This paper examine effective interventions on gambling disorder and how stigma can derail an individual's recovery. It specifically focuses on the integration of motivational interviewing (MI) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as treatments.

The Extent To Which Online Symptom Searching Predicts Health Anxiety Among Adults, Lakelyn Jonell

Psychology Student Publications

The internet has the potential to provide inaccurate, misleading and alarming information. Individuals may begin to hyper fixate on their symptoms and overall health when being provided with worse-case scenario answers. This experience can lead an individual to develop health anxiety, a condition characterized by excessive fear and worry due to a perceived threat to individuals health.

Does Music Education Improve Test Scores?, Claire Mclaughlin

Psychology Student Publications

Music programs are often among the first to be reduced when schools face budget constraints. Yet many educators believe that music education contributes to students’ broader academic success. This paper examines whether music education improves test scores? Drawing on longitudinal studies, quasi-experimental research, and correlational analyses, this paper explores the relationship between music training and academic performance, particularly in reading and mathematics. Research suggests that students who participate in music education often demonstrate improved executive functioning, academic competence, and standardized achievement scores. However, findings also indicate that the relationship is complex and influenced by factors such as instructional quality, socioeconomic …

Why Last-Minute Studying Fails, Ava Oberg

Psychology Student Publications

This paper discusses why last minute cramming is ineffective and can be detrimental if you are trying to remember the information long term. It highlights the benefits of spaced practices and retrieval -based Practices to improve your long term retention. This paper states that adopting more effective study strategies can improve your academic performance and help with long term retention.

Roundtable: Issue 5, Brody Rohrich, Jonathan Blessing, Kysten Keever, Mona Kuylee, Makenna Maples-Janisch, Gavin Mitzel, Victoria Voss

Roundtable: Journal of the UND Honors Program

No abstract provided.