Digital Commons Network^™

Strategies To Increase Engagement In K-12 Stem Programs Among Bipoc Students Grades 3rd – 8th, Denisha C. Griffey

Dissertations

The WIRE Youth Development Programs, housed within the Lewis Walker Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnic Relations at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI foster two enrichment programs geared towards strengthening the gap in academic knowledge through STEM/STEAM activities. Since its inception, WIRE has impacted over 1,000 youth grades 3-8 among the BIPOC population through its programs, most notably the WIRE Math and Science Summer Camp and Saturday Academy. In 2020, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, many K-12 education school systems switched to remote learning. As a result of this transition, there was a decrease in access …

On Phishing: Proposing A Host-Based Multi-Layer Passive/Active Anti-Phishing Approach Combating Counterfeit Websites, Wesam Harbi Fadheel

Dissertations

Phishing is the starting point of most cyberattacks, mainly categorized as Email, Websites, Social Networks, Phone calls (Vishing), and SMS messaging (Smishing). Phishing refers to an attempt to collect sensitive data, typically in the form of usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, bank account information, etc., or other crucial facts, intending to use or sell the information obtained. Similar to how a fisherman uses bait to catch a fish, an attacker will pose as a trustworthy source to attract and deceive the victim.

This study explores the efficacy of host-side APT (Anti-Phishing Techniques) based onWebsite features like Lexical, Host-Based, or Content-Based …

Examination Of A Measure To Assess Clients’ Perceptions Of The Client-Provider Relationship In Home Visiting Services, Bethelhem Belachew

Dissertations

Home visiting services are prevention-or intervention-based programs provided to caregivers during the prenatal period through the first few years of a child’s development (Shonkoff & Phillips, 2000). Engagement in services is documented to improve caregivers’ knowledge of child development and parenting practices (e.g., home safety, nutrition; Ammerman et al., 2006). Despite these benefits, programs are challenged with high levels of attrition (Gomby, Culross, & Behrman, 1999). One reliable predictor of client engagement in services is the client-provider relationship. However, measures that have been developed to assess the clients’ perception of their relationship with their home visitor relationship are limited (Girvin …

Exploring The Dimensions Of Lesbian, Gay, And Bisexual Affirmative Clinical Supervision, Lindsey N. Dollar

Dissertations

Graduate programs have continued to improve over time regarding incorporating training on LGB issues into coursework and practicum experiences with less emphasis on supervision. Since supervision is a major training area where therapists learn about clients and themselves, it becomes an important area for also teaching supervisees how to work with minority populations. However, relatively absent from discussions of cultural influences in supervision is a focus on LGB concerns, and missing is the ‘how to’ within the supervisory relationship. This quantitative investigation sought to learn how clinical supervisors with knowledge of LGB issues and people implement LGB-affirmative supervision, and to …

Exploring Biotic And Abiotic Constraints On Competition For Signal Space Within Birdsong Communities, Joanna M. Sblendorio

Dissertations

With the acceleration of climate change and the conversion of natural ecosystems to human-dominated landscapes, there is concern for the persistence of biodiversity amid novel biotic and abiotic factors. An important outcome of shifting species distributions and environmental disturbance is the formation of novel assemblages. For animals that vocalize for mate attraction and resource defense, the introduction of new species into communities may alter availability of acoustic space for signaling and affect detection of signals by conspecifics. Thus, to minimize signal overlap, species should partition signal space and thereby inhabit well-defined acoustic niches. Yet mixed evidence exists regarding signal space …

Applying The Ecological Model Of Human Performance And The Slutwalk Movement To Support Those Affected By Rape Culture In The Context Of Occupational Therapy, Angela Klukken, Sally Wasmuth

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Improving the occupational lives of others is at the heart of occupational therapy practice. Advocacy for clientele is central to this improvement, both at individual and structural levels. We argue that interventions in the Ecological Model of Human Performance (EHP) and the social movement theSlutWalk can offer increased opportunity for occupational therapists to address the harmful implications for clients affected by sexual assault and rape culture. In addition, through the principles of the EHP and the SlutWalk, we propose that occupational therapists can have a hand in eradicating the culture that facilitates and tolerates sexual violence. This paper …

The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (Copm): Critiquing Its Applicability With Indigenous Peoples And Communities, Tara Price, Tara Pride

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Indigenous Peoples experience significant health inequities that must be understood in relation to historical and ongoing colonialism, racism, and discrimination. The occupational therapy profession has claimed commitment to addressing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) calls to action, however, the profession is firmly grounded in Euro-Western epistemologies, including its assessments. The purpose of this paper was to assess the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) for use with Indigenous clients and communities. Although the COPM uses flexibility through semi-structured interviews and the exclusion of standardized score comparisons, it is mired in colonial underpinnings and has hierarchical therapist-client power dynamics threaded throughout. …

Sequential Simulations During Introductory Part-Time Fieldwork: Design, Implementation, And Student Satisfaction, Kaitlin R. Sibbald, Diane E. Mackenzie

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Simulation is used in various ways in occupational therapy education and is recognized as a replacement for some conventional fieldwork hours. However, design and student satisfaction has had limited exploration.

Method: Sequential best practice simulations were designed for Level 1 fieldwork objectives in mental and musculoskeletal practice. The Satisfaction with Simulation Education scale (SSES) and qualitative feedback were used to assess student satisfaction. An exploratory factor analysis was used to validate the SSES in occupational therapy, and a three-factor repeated measures ANOVA was used to determine factors contributing to satisfaction across simulations.

Results: A three-factor model …

Occupational Therapy Curricula Patterns For Acquired Brain Injury-Related Vision Disorders For Entry-Level Programs: A Survey, Laura Schmeiser, Alicia Reiser, Caitlyn Foy

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists are among the first providers to encounter individuals after an acquired brain injury (ABI). Evidence suggests that most occupational therapists learn about ABI-related vision disorders from continuing education and on-the-job training. A better understanding of entry-level curricula patterns for ABI-related vision disorders is important because of their high prevalence and impact on occupational performance. A descriptive online survey was administered to occupational therapy educators at ACOTE-accredited entry-level programs to explore curricula patterns for ABI-related vision disorders. Of 1,391 occupational therapy educators invited to participate, 71 (5%) began the survey, and 66 met the inclusion criteria. Vision screening methods …

Integrating Sleep Promotion Education Into Acute Care Orthopedics Occupational Therapy Practice: A Case Series Study, Rebecca Ludwig, Aaron M. Eakman, Catherine Siengsukon

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The occupation of sleep is frequently under-addressed by occupational therapists with their clients. This may be in part because of a lack of general training on addressing this occupational domain or a lack of education about the basics of sleep. The domain of sleep has been in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework since 2008. However, it remains unclear how to address the domain of sleep in occupational therapy practice. Therefore, the purpose of this case series is to describe the practical application of sleep promotion education.

Methods: A practicing occupational therapist with sleep training provided sleep promotion …

Encounters With Ethical Problems During The First 5 Years Of Practice In Occupational Therapy: A Survey, Brenda S. Howard, Michele Govern, Alexandra M. Gambrel, Morgan Haney, Haylee Ottinger, Travis W. Rippe, Alyssa Earls

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Health care professionals face ethical problems in practice, but there is little research on types of ethical problems encountered or ethical problem resolution. This study explored ethical problems encountered by occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) within the first 5 years of practice.

Method: Investigators sent a survey in cooperation with NBCOT to a sample of 7,800 occupational therapists and OTAs in multiple practice settings who were NBCOT certified within the past five years. The survey covered questions regarding ethical problems encountered in practice, including productivity and related issues, clinical decision-making and professional reasoning, therapeutic relationships, and …

Predictors Of Occupational Competence In People Hospitalized With Chronic Conditions, Melanie Morriss Tkach, Patricia Bowyer, Marsha Neville, Timothy J. Wolf, Gerald Goodman

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Chronic diseases limit participation in meaningful daily activities, roles, and routines, which can negatively impact occupational competence, a sense of self, and life satisfaction, especially when hospitalization is required to manage disease symptoms. Standardized measures of occupational competence and related functional, cognitive, and environmental factors may enhance occupational therapists’ ability to identify potential barriers to and make targeted recommendations for self- and health management in the community.

Method: This cross-sectional study investigated occupational competence in patients hospitalized with chronic conditions. The participants completed measures of occupational competence, values, self-care function, environmental impact, and functional cognition while hospitalized. …

Social Participation And Navigation With Adolescent And Young Adult Brain Tumor Survivors: Usability And Potential Benefits, Gary Bedell, Nicole Porter, Miranda Cullen, Zachary Gould, Stephanie Freeman

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: This study examined the usability and potential benefits of Social Participation and Navigation (SPAN), a virtual coaching goal planning intervention, which was modified for adolescent and young adult (AYA) brain tumor survivors who often experience social participation challenges.

Methods: Four AYA brain tumor survivors participated in a brief trial of the modified SPAN consisting of four weekly coaching sessions with trained supervised occupational therapy graduate students and use of a website and web application to assist with goal planning and achievement. The participants rated their social participation and SPAN-specific skills pre/post program. The participants and parents completed 1-week …

Reflections From The Other Side Of Acute Care, Debbie Amini

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

An occupational therapist of 40 years experiences a traumatic event during her time in an acute care hospital. She journeys through a host of life-altering experiences, including cognitive decline, delusion, paranoia, and an inability to engage in her desired occupations. While on this journey and during reflections following her return home, she is able to see more clearly how an occupational therapist may have assisted with several of the major concerns she was experiencing, thus improving her well-being and quality of life. She is an Assistant Editor for the Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT) and this is her story.

Wmu Board Of Trustees Formal Session June 29, 2023, Wmu Board Of Trustees

WMU Board of Trustees Meetings

• Acceptance of the Agenda
• Approval of the Minutes (April 27, 2023 Meeting)
• Remarks by the Chair
• Remarks by the President
• Updates by the Faculty Senate President
• Updates by the Western Student Association President
• Western Michigan University Employee Graduates
• Trustee Emeritus Tribute
• WMU’s Investment in the Future – Academic Tenure and Promotion
• Public Comments Regarding Action Items

• Action Items

1. Student Room, Board, and Apartment Rates 2023-2024
2. Tuition and Required Fee Rates Fall 2023
3. General Fund Budget, Fiscal Year 2023-2024
4. Purchase of Grand Rapids Downtown Facility - 200 Ionia Avenue
5. Repurchase of BTR Parcel (Unit 30)
6. Five Year Capital Outlay Plan
7. Conditional …

Impact Evaluation: Ways In Which Children International Organization Fights Poverty And Child Marriages In The Dominican Republic, Omer Idris

Seita Scholars Study Abroad

No abstract provided.

Message To Future Seita Scholars: Studying Abroad In The Dominican Republic, Zakira Khwarlyan

Seita Scholars Study Abroad

No abstract provided.

Dominican Republic Study Abroad, Stephanie Moravcik

Seita Scholars Study Abroad

No abstract provided.

Come Study Abroad With Me!, Krystia Ramirez

Seita Scholars Study Abroad

No abstract provided.

Dominican Republic Study Abroad, Kimaya Bak

Seita Scholars Study Abroad

No abstract provided.

Wmu-Dr Partnership & Why You Should Study Abroad Given The Chance, Dallas Mate

Seita Scholars Study Abroad

No abstract provided.

Dominican Republic: Study Abroad, Rj Miller

Seita Scholars Study Abroad

No abstract provided.

Gender And Voice In Medieval French Literature And Song, Joseph P. Derosier

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

No abstract provided.

Improving Autonomous Vehicles Operational Performance Using Resilience Engineering, Johan Fanas Rojas

Dissertations

Autonomous vehicles are expected to revolutionize the transportation industry by providing a safer and more efficient means of transportation. However, as autonomous vehicles are deployed on public roads, they are exposed to significant risks, both in terms of safety and system performance. Recent studies have highlighted a range of errors and accidents associated with autonomous vehicles, underscoring the need for a systematic approach to improve their operational resilience. Resilience engineering, a discipline focused on designing and analyzing complex systems to better cope with unexpected events and disruptions, offers a promising framework for addressing these challenges. Despite the potential benefits of …

Functional Generalized Linear Mixed Models, Harmony Luce

Dissertations

With the advancements in data collection technologies, researchers in various fields such as epidemiology, chemometrics, and environmental science face the challenges of obtaining useful information from more detailed, complex, and intricately-structured data. Since the existing methods often are not suitable for such data, new statistical methods are developed to accommodate the complicated data structures.

As a part of such efforts, this dissertation proposes Functional Generalized Linear Mixed Model (FGLMM), which extends classical generalized linear mixed models to include functional covariates. Functional Data Analysis (FDA) is a rapidly developing area of statistics for data which can be naturally viewed as smooth …

Enabling Energy Efficiency In Connected And Automated Vehicles Through Predictive Control Techniques, Farhang Motallebiaraghi

Dissertations

The transportation sector is a significant contributor to global energy consumption and emissions, necessitating the development of sustainable transportation systems. In this regard, connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) have emerged as a potential solution to transform the transportation industry. By harnessing advanced mapping and location technologies, Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) communication, CAVs offer the promise of improving efficiency, reducing traffic congestion, and enhancing safety and comfort. However, the adoption of CAVs also brings about various challenges, including energy efficiency concerns that need to be addressed to fully realize their potential benefits. This dissertation investigates energy-efficient control techniques for transportation …

Telehealth Functional Behavior Assessment In Practice: A Demonstration Of The Clinical Utility Of Dynamic Probability Analyses And Estimates Of Contingency Strength, Lilith Michaele Reuter-Yuill

Dissertations

The spread of SARS-CoV-2 and acceleration of coronavirus disease cases resulted in a global pandemic and presented unique and unprecedented humanitarian issues. Behavior analysts trained in the area of functional behavior assessment offer important services that may assist families to address behavioral challenges that they face during this difficult time. Despite the growing body of evidence of telehealth functional behavior assessments, practitioners still face several unknowns. In Experiment I, a telehealth functional behavior assessment was conducted with three children with autism spectrum disorder. Assessment methods represented a continuum of experimental control from unstructured conditions (no experimental control), structured descriptive assessment …

Moral Discourses Of Atheist Organizations: Moral Contrasts, Symbolic Boundaries, And Collective Identities, Alexander Fether

Dissertations

This dissertation examines the ways atheist organizations construct morality and valorize atheist identities. Focusing on a discursive resources approach, wherein “atheist” is a social category whose meaning is contested, this analysis examines how representations of “atheists” are sedimented by the ways individuals and organizations communicate about atheism, religion, morality, secularism, and other relevant concepts which constitute this identity.

Examining the websites of two prominent atheist organization, Qualitative Content Analysis is used to identify the strategies used to legitimate atheist identities, discredit religion, and construct a coherent atheist morality. I describe the way atheist organizations engage in boundary work to challenge …

Leadership Identity Development Among Aspiring Women Leaders In Higher Education: A Phenomenological Study Of Formal Mentoring, Malia E. Roberts

Dissertations

Men have held the majority of presidencies, vice-presidencies, deanships, and other top administrative positions on college campuses since 1950 (Parker, 2015). The disproportionately low representation of women holding leadership roles in higher education is even more urgent considering few women ever reach the senior most leadership levels (Hannum et al., 2015). As such, the American Council on Education not only identified the need to increase the presence of women in leadership positions and to cultivate a pipeline of future leaders, but also the need to provide formal leadership training opportunities for women (Howard & Gagliardi, 2018). While various higher education …

School Principals As Leaders Of Educational Environments In School Settings: Recontextualization Of American Educational Practices In China, Wei Zhang

Dissertations

Chinese principals play a significant role in recontextualizing the U.S. principals’ practices in leading their school reform and student outcomes in Chinese social, cultural, and educational contexts. The purpose of this basic qualitative study is twofold: (1) to describe and interpret how Chinese principals make meaning of their experiences as active democratic leaders and (2) to identify the challenges they are going through in creating an educational environment based on the creative use of U.S. research and theory supporting best practices for principals. The study has a total of 50 participants (n=50) across the United States (n=32) and China (n=18). …