Digital Commons Network^™

A Survey Study On Physiological Hearing Assessment Practice In The Usa, Malina Mangrum, Hasan Saleh, Sangamanatha Ankmnal Ankmnal Veeranna, Kimberly Ward, Charles G. Marx

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Background: In the United States, limited information exists regarding the physiological measures and testing parameters used in infant hearing assessments. To address this gap, we conducted a nationwide survey to identify the types of physiological tests and procedures currently employed by audiologists.

Method: A structured survey was distributed to audiologists across the country to gather information about the auditory tests and recording parameters used in infant hearing evaluations.

Results: Most respondents reported using Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABRs) to estimate infant hearing thresholds, primarily relying on traditional stimuli rather than chirp stimuli. The Auditory Steady-State Response (ASSR) was not widely used …

Language Learning Under Pressure: Rethinking Anxiety, Assessment, And Support In Second Language Classrooms, Bryn C. Cole

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

This portfolio examines the role of anxiety in second language acquisition (SLA) and its impact on student performance, assessment, and overall participation. Drawing on both the author’s classroom experience and SLA research, it argues that language anxiety should be understood as a structural feature of classroom environments rather than an individual learner deficit. The paper explores how traditional assessment practices may obscure students’ underlying competence by prioritizing performance under pressure. It proposes two key shifts in response: reformatting assessments as a more flexible and context-sensitive process, and integrating peer mentorship as a form of interpersonal instructional support. Together, these approaches …

A Focus On Student Needs In German Instruction, Elisa E. Remund

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

This portfolio serves as documentation of the author’s professional progress throughout the Master of Science of Second Language Teaching (MSSLT) program at Utah State University, shown through teaching philosophy, hands-on teaching experience and practice, and demonstrates the author’s use of pedagogical strategies and theory, including but not exclusive to comprehensible input, the sociocultural method, dynamic assessment, and the output hypothesis. It details the usage of current research-based strategies to increase classroom engagement and student proficiency, such as the IMAGE Model for teaching culture and language, collaborative learning, and dynamic assessment strategies. Furthermore, the portfolio includes a reflection on the benefits …

Tales, Traditions, And Tides: The Little Logan River And Its Role In Cache Valley's History, Culture, And Conservation, Emily A. Kovacic

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

The Little Logan River (LLR) plays a vital role in the cultural, historical, and ecological landscape of Cache Valley, Utah. Amid growing concerns raised by the Logan River Watershed Project (LRWP), which threatens to alter the river’s environment, this project seeks to understand the significance of the LLR as a cultural and recreational asset through collected oral histories. Building on folkloric perspectives of place-based storytelling, this thesis introduces the idea of vivus locum, or “that place which is alive,” through the example of the LLR to the study of folkloristics. The concept of vivus locum emphasizes the importance of …

The Role Of Public Spaces In Facilitating Social Interactions On Summer Weekends, Sierra R. Murray

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Public spaces such as parks, plazas, and pedestrian areas are important places where people meet, relax, and interact with others. While these spaces are intended to bring communities together, their design does not always support social interaction. This study explored how everyday design features influence how people use public spaces and engage with one another. Features such as seating, trees and plants, shade, water elements, and the way spaces are shaped were examined. The goal was to better understand how design choices affect social life in shared outdoor environments. 

The research involved observing how people naturally behaved in different public …

Reciprocal Teaching With Emergent Bilingual Students: Promoting Academic Reading Strategies And Fostering Hope, Lorissa K. Nelson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Many students struggle with reading comprehension, and research shows that low literacy skills in a student’s first language can unfortunately lead to lower rates of university program completion, regardless of the language of instruction. When students feel empowered and confident in their ability to achieve their academic goals, they are much more likely to take ownership of their learning. In fact, students who actively demonstrate hopeful thinking and behaviors are consistently more successful in their academic journeys.

My research explores how we can better support these high school students— specifically concurrent enrollment (CE) students—by examining the impact of Reciprocal Teaching. …

Pesticide Dissipation In Agroecosystems – Exploring Pesticide Fate And Transport Mechanisms To Protect Alternative Pollinators, Calvin Luu

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Honey bees are the most well-known pollinators, but there exists thousands of other bee species that contribute to pollination; one such group of bees are the solitary bees. True to their namesake, solitary bees do not live in hives like honey bees. Some solitary bees, like alfalfa leafcutting bees (ALCB) and blue orchard bees, can pollinate crops more efficiently than honey bees. However, since they live solitary lives, pesticide exposure is much more harmful to their overall population. If one honey bee dies from pesticide exposure, the hive can still survive, and the queen bee will continue producing offspring. If …

The Legacy, Importance, & Impact Of Lend: Evidence And Personal Stories, Emily Zalimeni, Emma Stone, Alexa Fortier, Leia Getchell, Nataliya Kloyzner, Asha Abdullahi, Elizabeth Barkoudah, Meghan Chapman, Meredith Close, Heather Engholm, Melissa Levin, Aanchal Sharma, Sarah Sparks, Patricia Rissmiller, Amy Szarkowski, Jason M. Fogler

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) programs offer an interdisciplinary/interprofessional training opportunity for medical and allied health professionals, and individuals impacted by disability, including family members and self-advocates. Toward the aim of advocating for the enduring need of LEND and similar training programs, this article centers the voices of a subset of our alumni who have advanced the rights and improved the lives of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. These stories are intended to illustrate the key lessons and principles of LEND training, including attending to disability issues in education, growing skills within and between individuals working …

An Ai Perspective On Counseling Supervision, Emily A. Brinck, James L. Soldner, Hung Jen Kuo, Scott A. Sabella, Trenton J. Landon, Charles P. Bernacchio, Elizabeth A. Boland

Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling Faculty Publications

The increased use of technology-assisted distance counseling practices is one result of COVID’s impact on behavioral health, including in counselor education and the delivery of supervision. First, technology-assisted distance supervision needed for “real time” communication grew. Furthermore, there is an emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies that have the potential to contribute to aspects of supervision; however, current evidence remains emerging, context-dependent, and at times mixed, warranting cautious interpretation of their effectiveness. The article offers an overview of using AI in clinical supervision, examines the benefits and potential concerns of AI from different perspectives, and considers the significance of using …

Ucedd Innovations Lead To Idd Networks’ Driving Change: Envision, Empower, Employ, Suzzanne Freeze, Jean Winsor, Brittany M. Powers, Amy Huppi

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

State systems responsible for administering employment services and supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) must acclimate to changing demands, address new regulations, and continue to meet needs in an era of high workforce turnover and uncertain funding. While improvements have been made across the U.S., there are still far too many individuals seeking meaningful employment and contributory roles in the community who are not supported to achieve those goals. A key success factor is providing publicly funded state systems with the information needed to strategically pivot toward priorities and ensure smooth transitions of organizational change. Our country’s …

"I Belong Here": The Ucla Leadership Academy For Emerging Disability Rights Leaders, Blake E. Warner, Jasper A. Estabillo, Elisabeth Cincione, Julianna Martinez, Yasamin Bolourian, Kashia A. Rosenau, Elizabeth A. Laugeson

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

The UCLA Leadership Academy for Emerging Disability Rights Leaders was developed to address the gap between advocacy training and systems-level leadership opportunities for disabled people. Rooted in the principles of co-production, accessibility, and relevance, the Leadership Academy equips participants with advocacy, storytelling, and testimony skills through a structured, interactive curriculum supported by coaches and program graduates with lived experience. This paper presents findings from two phases of evaluation: (1) a pilot study with the first cohort, examining the program's feasibility and acceptability through retention, attendance, and participant satisfaction data; and (2) interviews with program graduates who returned in a mentorship …

Engaging Immigrant Families Of Children With Disabilities: Recommendations For Practitioners, Robai N. Werunga, John William Mckenna, Rocio Rosales

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Family involvement is essential for positive school outcomes. Yet research suggests that family engagement for students with disabilities may be marked by conflict. Furthermore, creating an environment that promotes active engagement for immigrant families may be challenging. In this paper, we synthesize existing research, legal guidance, and community-engaged insights to present four practice-oriented recommendations for educators and practitioners working with immigrant families of children with disabilities. Grounded in Hans and Love’s stages of immigrant family engagement, these recommendations aim to support meaningful and culturally responsive participation in special education processes.

Cross-Cultural Differences Among Children And Youth With Special Health Care Needs: A Mixed-Methods Analysis Of Chinese, Spanish, And English-Speaking Families, Kathleen Mcgrath, Miriam Franco, Amy Morales-Lara, Karen Bonuck Phd, Joanne Siegel

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

One in five U.S. children has a special health care need, with prevalence rates rising each year. Children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) from immigrant and/or non-English speaking families face heightened barriers to care, unmet health needs, and worsened health outcomes. This mixed-methods study explores cross-cultural similarities and differences among English-, Spanish-, and Chinese-speaking families of CYSHCN across four key domains – (1) the diagnostic process, (2) access to essential services, (3) community integration, and (4) social supports. As part of a statewide, New York State Department of Health funded initiative implemented across three University Centers for …

Roots And Greens: Discovering The Power Of Indigenous Produce, Abiodun T. Atoloye, Sherif O. Olasoji, Ebunoluwa G. Ibidapo

Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences Courseware

The curriculum was designed in alignment with the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning (CTML), Empowerment Theory (ET), and Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) frameworks. These frameworks were used to determine the selection and sequencing of learning activities. As reflected in CTML principles, the use of texts, images, infographics, and videos enhances knowledge retention and information comprehension and helps prevent cognitive overload. Through activities, homework, and family engagement, the principles of ET were incorporated into the curriculum to facilitate participants’ perceived control over food-related decisions. Additionally, by applying the principles of SCT, the curriculum incorporates scenario-based questions, opportunities to engage with peers, …

Introduction To Tamil Language For Speech-Language Pathologists In The U.S.A. ~A Phonetic, Linguistic, And Cultural Guide With Clinical Applications~, Roshni Sreeram Mohan Kasthuri

Curiosity

With the increasing linguistic diversity rapidly expanding in the United States of America’s (U.S.A.) educational and health care systems, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are increasingly being asked to provide services to individuals who come from multilingual/multicultural backgrounds (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, n.d.). Among these, there are the Tamil-speaking community, representing a classical Dravidian language that has more than 80 million native speakers worldwide (Proof, 2019) and sizeable diasporas in the U.S.A.

This interdisciplinary Tamil guide provides SLPs with the foundational knowledge and information about Tamil phonetics and morphosyntax, while also emphasizing the need for a culturally responsive tool for assessment. This guide …

Emergency Food Response, Rhiana Medina, Malcolm Campbell-Taylor

Utah Conference on Community Engagement

What should you consider when a crisis suddenly increases demand for essential services? This session explores how programs can shift from routine operations to effective emergency response. Presenters will share practical strategies for acting quickly, using simple tools, and communicating clearly with community members and partners during high-pressure situations.

Brief Reviews Of Books And Products: Theses On The Metaphors Of Digital-Textual History, David Advent

Library Faculty & Staff Publications

Theses on the Metaphors of Digital-Textual History is an exploration of seven key metaphors that Martin Paul Eve, Professor of Literature, Technology, and Publishing at Birkbeck College, University of London, argues have structured our cultural and linguistic understandings of the world around us. Eve organizes the book around eight chapters (“theses”), with each metaphor comprising a separate chapter. The theses are connected thematically in pairs, save for the closing chapter. Eve decodes each metaphor into its basic elements and interweaves the complex digital and textual histories behind each metaphor. Overwhelmingly, Eve wants readers to recognize how striking the parallels are …

Strength In Collaboration: A Unified Dd Network Approach To A Statewide Needs Assessment, Emily R. Lanchak, Julie Lounds Taylor, Bruce L. Keisling

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

To strengthen collaboration, improve efficiency, and reduce respondent burden, the Tennessee Developmental Disabilities (DD) Network launched a first-of-its-kind integrated statewide needs assessment. This two-year, mixed-methods effort gathered input from nearly 1,500 individuals with disabilities, family members, and professionals through an accessible survey and follow-up focus groups. Tennessee DD Network partners co-developed measures, coordinated outreach efforts, and pooled resources to ensure broad representation and inclusive participation across communities statewide. Community members with lived experience were involved throughout the process, helping to ensure materials were usable, relevant, and respectful of diverse needs. The resulting shared dataset provides a foundation for each organization’s …

Self-Efficacy Through The Use Of Ai-Video Simulations And Video Feedback (Goreact) For Medical Interpreting Training, Ricardo Tienda-Pérez

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

In today’s diverse and modern healthcare systems, medical interpreters play a critical role in clinical safety and quality care. However, a pedagogical gap exists between classroom vocabulary mastery and the self-advocacy skills required in real-world clinical settings. This research evaluates the impact of AI-generated video simulations and GoReact’s time-coded feedback on the self-efficacy and self-advocacy of student interpreters enrolled in the Spanish Medical Interpreting Training course (SPAN 4081) at Utah State University’s Logan campus – as part of the Spanish Medical Interpretation & Translation certificate program during the Spring 2026 semester. By utilizing a mixed-methods research design, this study collected …

Patterns Of Acquisition For /ɹ/ Across Phonetic Contexts, Hailey Nielson

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Purpose: 

This study examined longitudinal changes in /ɹ/ production (i.e., the “r” sound) among 14 children aged five to seven at risk for persistent speech sound disorders (SSDs). Children at risk for SSDs show slower or atypical development of /ɹ/, yet little is known about which early patterns predict persistent difficulty, making it difficult for clinicians to prioritize caseloads and provide timely intervention. Using perceptual accuracy ratings across varied /ɹ/ contexts, we modeled growth in /ɹ/ accuracy across different word contexts and evaluated the extent to which early accuracy and changes in /ɹ/production predicted mastery at age seven.

Methods: 

Longitudinal …

Uncanniness In Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye, Seth L. Callor

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

This thesis explores how Toni Morrison’s 1970 novel The Bluest Eye has a feature called the uncanny. Uncanniness, as originally explained by Sigmund Freud, is when something that was familiar becomes unsettlingly unfamiliar in a way that was likely once repressed. Other thinkers have since talked about how the uncanny is used in stories to question how their demographics are oppressed. Following their example, this thesis explains how The Bluest Eye is an example of using the uncanny to question harmful ways of seeing. Through demonstrating how The Bluest Eye uses obviously uncanny things like dolls and moves to more …

“Women Vs. Perfection:” A Pentadic Analysis Of Toxicity In Online Gaming, Niyayesh Arshadnia

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

This thesis utilizes a mixed-methods approach to examine an online video game player community as a case study to diagnose the underlying reason for widespread hostile behavior, especially towards women, among players in the online gaming sphere. The application of dramatism, a rhetorical theory that breaks down human behavior into elements of drama, reveals that the gaming industry and gaming culture are the likely perpetuators of this issue due to the environments they create and the behaviors they reward. This project is a diagnostic step towards rhetorically alleviating the exclusionary attitude of users in online gaming spaces through further research.

Challenging Myths In Speech-Language Pathology: A Scientific Review Of Augmentative And Alternative Communication (Aac) Use, Bilingualism, And Late Talking, Mariah Morris

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Persistent myths within the field of speech-language pathology continue to influence clinical decision-making and contribute to biases experienced by both providers and clients. This scientific review examines common misconceptions surrounding late talking, bilingualism, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) by evaluating current evidence-based research. Specifically, this review addresses three central questions: Do children outgrow late talking? Does bilingualism cause language delay in children? Does AAC hinder speech development? 

An analysis of multiple peer-reviewed studies revealed little statistical support for the belief that bilingualism or AAC use causes language delays. Instead, research indicates that factors such as limited access to language-rich …

A Curriculum Development Study: Crafting And Teaching Curricula For Ell Students In China, Kayleigh Kearsley

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

When teaching English Language Learners (ELL), it is important to understand the best practices and tools available to teach these students effectively and engagingly. In this curriculum development study, I examine and utilize effective and engaging practices for teaching ELL students and offer eleven lesson plans taught to a native Chinese speaker that reflect the implementation and development of these practices. Research consisted of both practical and theoretical sources concerning critical pedagogy for teaching ELL students. An understanding of students’ background shapes an understanding of language transfer, thus providing a more tailored teaching approach (Swan & Smith, 2001). The scaffolding …

An Autohistoria-Teoría Of A Pasifika Neptantlera, Belinda 'Ofakihevahanoa Fotu

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This study was an autohistoria-teoría, a type of autoethnography, where I focused on my writing process as a Pasifika researcher creating a middle- grade fiction. As the researcher, my questions delved into how I engage in writing for a majority-culture dominated publication house in a Western-world writing genre while maintaining the cultural significance of the ancient Pasifika mythologies I reproduced and recontextualized in the novel. The research site was my writing process, and the data gathered came from the variety of ways I navigated cultural stimuli specific to writing the novel. The outcome engaged with the specific way Pasifika (and …

Assessing Young Children's Computational Thinking: Validation Of Items And Item Design Features, And Diagnostic Approaches, Chungsoo Na

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The goals of this multiple-paper dissertation are to evaluate the psychometric evidence of the Computational and Spatial Thinking Assessment (CaST), designed and developed by the Coding in Kindergarten (CiK) research team (supported by NSF #1842116). In Chapter 2 (Paper 1), I evaluate the psychometric quality of the CaST assessment at the item level. The CaST has moderate item difficulty and high item discrimination, on average, with high reliability and no gender- or age-related item bias. In Chapter 3 (Paper 2), I identify seven item design features from the CaST assessment and examine their impact on item difficulty. All item design …

Cultural Adaptation Of A Single Session Acceptance And Commitment Therapy Guide For College Students In Uganda, Miriam Mukasa Kasozi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and stress are common among Ugandan university students and can make it difficult for them to succeed in school or maintain well-being. However, many students do not have access to professional mental health care. Digital self-help programs can make support more available, especially when they are designed to fit the local culture and context. This project examined how an online program called ACT Guide Lite, which teaches skills from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), could be adapted for use with Ugandan college students. Students and other university community members first completed the program …

Social And Institutional Factors Influencing Restoration Decisions In Sagebrush Plant Communities In The Great Basin, Carmen Calzado-Martínez

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Sagebrush landscapes of the Great Basin in the western United States have changed dramatically over the past century. Invasive grasses, repeated wildfires, and past land-use practices have made it increasingly difficult for native plant communities to recover once they are damaged. Most restoration efforts occur after disturbances such as wildfire, when ecosystems may already be severely degraded. An alternative approach is proactive restoration, which aims to strengthen ecosystems before major damage occurs. 

This dissertation examines whether proactive restoration strategies could realistically be used in sagebrush rangelands and what factors influence their adoption. The research combines three complementary approaches. First, interviews …

Advancing Context-Aware Detection Of Socially Harmful Discourse Using Transformer-Based Models, Santosh Chapagain

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Social media platforms are a central part of modern communication, shaping how people share ideas, build communities, and discuss social issues. While these spaces can support connection and self expression, they also enable the spread of harmful language such as hate speech. At the same time, social media is an important place where members of marginalized communities, including sexual and gender minorities, express stress, discrimination, and emotional challenges in ways that are often indirect and context dependent.

This research examines whether modern artificial intelligence systems can better identify harmful language and expressions of minority stress in online posts. The study …

Dyadic Agreement In And Task Correlates To A Measurement Of Conversational Success, Samantha Budge

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Successful conversation matters for social connection, wellbeing, and quality of life, but people do not always agree on whether a conversation was successful, even when they participated in the same interaction. Conversation is also commonly measured through task success, even though it’s unclear how task success correlates to how successful a conversation feels. This study examined how conversational success is experienced by different conversation partners and whether feeling successful in a conversation is related to how well a task is completed.

Participants took part in a structured conversational task and then rated their own conversational experience using a self-report questionnaire …