Digital Commons Network^™

Perspectives Of School-Based Occupational Therapists, Hannah Smiles, Charlie Mechling, Steven D. Taff, Lauren E. Milton

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: In the United States, schools are the second largest employer of occupational therapists (AOTA, 2020a). While research on school-based topics exist, to date there is no comprehensive study on school-based occupational therapy (OT) practice. The purpose of this study was to describe current implementation of the school-based OT process and better understand perspectives of school-based occupational therapists.

Methods: This descriptive study consisted of a researcher-developed survey with open- and close-ended demographic and practical questions related to the school-based OT process. A convenience sample of school-based occupational therapists were recruited with a snowball recruitment strategy via email and …

Guidelines For Conducting Survey Research: Part 2 – Administration And Analysis, Rob Lyerla, Diane Powers Dirette

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

In the Fall 2024 issue of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT), the letter from the editor discussed the background of survey research and introduced the readers to a guideline for conducting research with a focus on survey development and recruitment of participants (Dirette & Lyerla, 2024). In this issue, we are following up with Part 2, which focuses on administering a survey and analyzing the results. We hope you find these guidelines useful for conducting quality survey research.

Investigating Cold Homicide Cases In Michigan: Combining Systematic Research With Experiential Insight, Jaqueline Chavarria

Honors Theses

According to the Michigan State Police (2023), murder/non-negligent manslaughter, commonly known as homicide, is the “willful (non-negligent) killing of one human being by another.” The Murder Accountability Project suggests there could be over 20,000 unsolved homicide cases in Michigan between 1965 and 2023 (2024). Despite the prevalence of unsolved cases, scholarly analysis on the topic is limited. This study examines solvability factors, also known as clearance factors, for cold homicide cases in Michigan by conducting a systematic literature review with news publications. Additionally, this study incorporates experiential insight, offering a holistic exploration of solvability factors. Using a systematic approach, 15 …

Truly We Speak Podcast - Creative Thesis Project: "Uplifting Faith, Community, And Education Through The Voice Of The People.", Sierra Ward

Honors Theses

This creative thesis has been curated by Sierra Ward, a Sales and Marketing student at Western Michigan University. The intent behind this project was to combine shared interests between Faith, Community, and education to create a podcast, interviewing prominent members of the community, in hopes of inspiring others to “speak truly” and use their voice to evoke everlasting change. A wide range of guest were chosen to have authentic conversations with the purpose of educating the audience about real life situations. The filming of this project started in Fall of 2024 and concluded in the Spring of 2025.

Growing up …

Who Needs More Than 1 Water Bottle? Apparently, Everyone., Jazmyn Weddig

Honors Theses

This research investigates the interplay between a good’s functional durability, and its collectability, focusing on the Stanley Quencher water bottle market as a case in point, which has recently gained widespread consumer interest. It examines the economic and psychological factors driving consumer behavior and the market dynamics associated with durable goods that become collectibles. This paper begins with a comprehensive analysis of Stanley and the history of the company to provide a better understanding of their evolving marketing strategies. This paper takes special interest in collecting behavior, planned obsolescence, market structures and economic utility to help explain consumer behavior within …

The Laureate, Brooklyn Hoover

Honors Theses

The Laureate’s mission is to provide undergraduate students at Western Michigan University a medium through which to publish their fiction, poetry, nonfiction, photography, graphic novels, and other creative works. The Laureate strives to be a professional and engaging journal that appeals to all. The 23^rd edition of The Laureate is unique in that, despite having no strict guidelines on themes, mediums, or styles, we found that many students expressed themes of grief, recovery, self-discovery, and new beginnings. Together, these works create a complex story of introspection and reflection.

Co-editors, Grace Cieslikowski and Brooklyn Hoover facilitated the launch of the …

The Internal Flame, Bailey Robydek

Interior Design Capstones

This body of research and design explores the vital relationship between interior environments and the well- being of firefighters. Challenging the traditional assumptions about how fire station design impacts their health and recovery. Firefighters endure significant physical exertion, psychological stress, and exposure to traumatic events, yet many fire station interiors remain focused primarily on operational functionality rather than personal wellness.

This research underscores the urgent need for fire station design to transcend traditional assumptions and evolve into a model that actively supports holistic recovery. Firefighters require spaces that address the cumulative impacts of their profession, both physical and mental taxation. …

Architecture Of Union: Exploring Community-Supported Wedding Venues, Erica Keillor

Interior Design Capstones

Weddings, as deeply symbolic rituals, often rely heavily on the venue to set the tone and enhance the emotional resonance of the event Yet, the rising cost of wedding venues often excludes couples from lower-to-middle income backgrounds, creating a barrier to access for many. This design project explores the potential of a community-supported greenhouse wedding venue—a model that not only offers affordability through shared community investment but also enhances the symbolic resonance of weddings through its nature-integrated architecture. The design investigates how intentional spatial planning within a greenhouse structure can serve both the practical needs of wedding ceremonies and the …

Food, Design & Desire, Emily Harnden

Interior Design Capstones

The research presented in Food, Design, and Desire examines the impactful role of interior design in shaping the connection between humans and food, with a focus on fine dining environments. Grounded by the thesis, the ideal dining experience creates a profound connection to oneself and the environment around you. This project investigates how built environments influence diners’ emotional and physical experiences, enhancing their intimacy with food. The research addresses the interplay between space, desire, and the human relationship with culinary experiences, aiming to develop design strategies that increase customer retention and deepen the human connection to food.

This project utilizes …

Estimating Climate Risk In Financial Markets, Olanrewaju Oluwadamilare Olaniyan

Masters Theses

The growing impact of climate change on financial markets necessitates a rigorous approach to climate risk assessment. This thesis examines methods for quantifying climate-related financial risks, with a focus on distinguishing climate risk from broader market movements (represented by S&P 500). Using a factor model, we isolate climate risk factors to better understand sector-specific volatility. The insurance sector is used as a proxy for climate risk exposure, given its sensitivity to climate-related losses and regulatory changes. We apply Extreme Value Theory (EVT); the Block Maxima Method and the Peaks Over Threshold Method, to identify excess risk patterns in financial portfolios. …

Deadtime In The Vale Of Soul-Making: Hermeneutics, Humanization, And Higher Education In Prison, Dale Michael Brown

Dissertations

This body of work examines higher education with and for justice-involved people from a descriptive, theoretical, and empirical perspective—pulling together multiple disciplines and employing different methodologies from the humanities and social sciences. The investigation is written from a philosophical perspective via educational foundations and a social science perspective via qualitative research, including an examination of carceral higher education’s connections to teaching and experiential learning. This approach reflects the interdisciplinary nature of both the author’s degree program and the topic itself, which (as a field of academic inquiry) is part theoretical and part empirical (both qualitative and quantitative). The papers in …

Divided Motherhood: Narrative Within The Domestic Vessel, Jacqueline Denaway

Masters Theses

This research explores the story of motherhood through that of art, craft, and the domestic vessel. It analyzes how the installation, Motherhood Divided, can be viewed as an exemplification of the conflicted divide inherent within contemporary motherhood. I posit this divide to be a result of the tension created between the impossibility of the current normative maternal ideal of intensive motherhood, and its contradiction to that of the private hidden realities of mothering.

The historical origin of intensive mothering is explored, along with its impact on current societal maternal standards. These concepts are juxtaposed with the art of Camille Henrot …

Moderating Effect Of Fantasy Football Participation And Location On Team Identification And Nfl Fandom, Devon Hudson

Masters Theses

This study explores how fantasy football participation in varying geographic proximities to NFL teams has altered traditional fan allegiances (i.e. team loyalty or fandom) as an alternate consumer product for the game of football. After utilizing survey data to quantify concepts of fandom and team identification amongst respondents, respondent groups were sorted into various groups based on both fantasy participation and location relevant to NFL teams. A series of hypotheses describing relationships between proximity, fantasy football participation, and fan perceptions are analyzed using a series of statistical tests. No statistical significance was found when comparing strength of team identification amongst …

Nature-Based Activities And Educational Programming To Promote Health And Wellbeing In Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Madison E. Smith

Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone experience (DCE) and project applied occupational therapy’s (OT) role in positive and healthy aging to the design and implementation of a nature-based activity and education program. Nature-based OT interventions for older adults are supported throughout scientific literature and are of continued importance to address ongoing mental and physical health challenges for the older adult population. This program took place at the Ecumenical Senior Center (ESC), a day center serving primarily underserved older adults in the Kalamazoo, Michigan area. Four interactive group sessions were implemented to explore the physical and mental health benefits of participating in nature activities. …

Creating Connections Through Art In Occupational Therapy And Its Impact On Identity And Belonging, Lianna Paris

Capstone Projects

Art has been a therapeutic tool in occupational therapy (OT) since the profession originated. Despite paradigm shifts in the field of OT, art-based interventions remain a valuable approach for promoting self-expression, emotional regulation, and skill development. However, many individuals living with disabilities still face limited access to creative therapeutic opportunities that support social connection and meaningful occupations. Addressing this gap is important, as incorporating art into OT can empower individuals to build effective coping skills and enhance their sense of identity and belonging. This doctoral capstone experience (DCE) aims to develop creative therapeutic environments at Western Michigan University’s (WMU) Unified …

Autism Spectrum Disorder And Neurodiversity: Sensory, Behavior, Trauma-Informed And Interdisciplinary Considerations, Sawyer Hodgkins

Capstone Projects

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a diagnosis that commonly receives occupational therapy (OT) services for sensory and behavioral intervention to promote participation and performance in daily activities. Additionally, individuals with ASD typically receive applied behavior therapy (ABA) to work on similar goal areas while benefiting from a trauma-informed approach. Many resources offer education and advocacy for the ASD population, but they lack a comprehensive and engaging format suitable for a wide range of audiences. This capstone project focused on developing an hour-long video providing an overview of ASD and neurodiversity, education regarding interdisciplinary, sensory, behavioral, and trauma-informed approaches, and concluded …

An Exploration Of Self-Identity And General Functioning Among U.S. Female Athletes Post-Paralympic Games, Riley M. Groves

Capstone Projects

Paralympians are a unique group of elite athletes with varying levels of disabilities who compete at the high level of sport. While much of the existing research focuses on their training and athletic accomplishments, little is known about their lives post-Paralympic Games and the role of Occupational therapy (OT) in athletic performance and everyday life. This doctoral capstone experience was conducted as a qualitative research study, with objectives developed to guide the research process. The study utilized an interpretative phenomenological analysis framework, grounded by Social Identity Theory, to explore the self-identity, sense of purpose, and functional abilities of Paralympians post-competition, …

Promoting Self-Regulation In Children: A Weekly Group Intervention Integrating Sensory, Movement, And Art-Based Activities, Emily Zion

Capstone Projects

Self-regulation, or the ability to control one’s mind and body in response to changes in the environment, is a prevalent challenge for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sensory processing disorder (SPD), among other neurodevelopmental conditions. Research shows that evidenced-based interventions rooted in sensory integration, movement, social-emotional learning, and artistic expression all contribute to improved self-regulation. The aim of this project was to develop a group program to promote self-regulation for clients at the Sensory Connections outpatient pediatric clinic in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Two evidence-based, six-week programs for preschool and elementary aged children were developed. The …

Developing And Implementing Support Groups For Parents Postpartum, Kathleen Van Kampen

Capstone Projects

The focus of this capstone project was to develop postpartum support groups to provide connection and support to new parents experiencing mental health challenges. Research and stakeholder interviews revealed significant gaps in holistic care for parents during their first year after childbirth, particularly regarding mental health, occupational balance, and education on child development. In response, a seven-week support group was implemented at Aptitude Yoga in Rockford, Michigan, with site mentor Amanda Brennan, a pelvic floor occupational therapist and owner of Balanced Pelvic Health and Wellness. The free sessions included evidence-based education, open discussion, and peer support, covering topics such as …

Program Development For Occupational Therapy Services Within A Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, Charles H. Hanks

Capstone Projects

The goal for this capstone project was to advocate for occupational therapy services to be provided within a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC). The concentration areas of my capstone project were occupational therapy program development and advocacy. CCBHCs provides a variety of medical, mental health, and substance use/abuse services to persons, groups, and populations living in the community. Currently, only qualified mental health professionals (QMHP) can provide skilled services to individuals significantly impacted by their challenges. This limits the number of trained professionals that can effectively treat and provide services to individuals in this setting. Occupational Therapists (OT) are …

Promoting Mental Wellness In Emergency Medical Service Students, Providers, And Their Support Systems Through Occupational Therapy, Morgan Gutzman

Capstone Projects

Emergency medical service (EMS) students and providers work in high-stakes and high-stress environments with limited education on how to manage the psychological toll of the job. Research shows that EMS providers have a higher prevalence of mental health struggles and suicide than the general population, which demonstrates the strong need for awareness, education, intervention, and stigma reduction. Occupational therapy (OT) is very capable of supporting this population through mental wellness education and awareness, occupational balance, and trauma-informed self-care strategies. One goal of this capstone project was to create and disseminate multimedia resources for EMS students, providers, and their support systems. …

Addressing Caregiver Health Through Intergenerational Relationships And Occupational Therapy’S Role In Supporting Caregiver Health, Madison Cochensparger

Capstone Projects

More than 11 million Americans provide unpaid care for a loved one with dementia, valued at nearly $350 billion (Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures, 2024). This doctoral capstone experience (DCE) aimed to implement an intergenerational program focused on improving dementia caregiver health by creating meaningful relationships of many generations of caregivers through the lens of an occupational therapy (OT) student. Intergenerational programs are defined as a way to facilitate relationships with different generations to enhance their everyday value in life. Occupational therapists work with all populations, exposing individuals with tools and strategies to live a meaningful and purposeful life. Results …

Enhancing Nbcot® Exam Readiness In An Entry-Level Otd Program, Kallen Wolfer

Capstone Projects

The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®) exam is extremely important for both occupational therapy (OT) students and academic programs. However, the exam and its accompanying study resources are often expensive and thus inaccessible to many students. Western Michigan University (WMU) offers an entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program with limited exam preparatory material offerings for its students. This capstone project aimed to increase student access to NBCOT® exam resources to enhance readiness to sit for and pass the exam. Project objectives and outcomes included the development of an eLearning course covering general NBCOT® exam topics, department purchase …

Emission Behavior At The Single Emitter Scale From A Porous Media Ionic Liquid Ion Source, Thomas Victor Kerber

Dissertations

Ionic liquid ion sources (ILIS) are being developed as one solution to fill a technology gap in low power, high efficiency, high specific impulse space propulsion systems. With a sufficiently intense electric field applied between an emitter electrode and an extractor electrode, charged particles are extracted from the fluid surface and accelerated out of the thruster. In this work, three experimental campaigns examine emission behavior of a single emitter ILIS made of porous material that allows passive propellant feed via capillary action of the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (EMI-BF₄).

Repeated measurements of the emitter and extractor current as …

Police Brutality Online: Allies’ Movement Towards Anti-Racist Behaviors, Halle Letizio M.A., Casey Hinger Ph.D

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

The proposed study will explore how exposure to police brutality via digital media platforms influences allies’ empathy towards BIPOC and drives them to challenge racist behaviors. Additionally, the study seeks to understand the role of psychological flexibility in sustaining these efforts, with respect to the psychological toll that witnessing police brutality can impose.

Strong Black Women Schema: Sexual Assault, Identity, Mental Health Outcomes, Ishara Jean-Francois, Cassandra Hinger, Kelly Yu-Hsin Liao

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

Sexual violence is a significant issue that is affecting the Black community, and it is leading to negative mental health outcomes for Black women (Zounlome et al., 2019). The proposed study will examine on the Strong Black Women Schema and aspects of identity following sexual violence.

The Psychological And Clinical Implications Of Digital Media Consumption, Julianna Carpenetti M.Ed.

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

With digital media, technology, and the Internet becoming staples of daily life, it is critical for counseling psychologists to better understand problematic digital media usage and “Internet addiction.” I investigated the psychological implications of digital media usage, provided recommendations for clinical practice, and identified future directions for empirical study.

Trauma From A Distance, Katelyne Griffin-Todd, Katherine Mcraven, Casey Hinger

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

Exposure to suffering, combined with emotional contagion and empathic concern, has been studied as leading to Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) in clinicians. This study proposes the development of STS examined in college-aged social media users who view human rights violations and what implications this has on their intention to be an activist.

Invited Keynote Speaker: Feeling Like A Fraud: The Impostor Phenomenon And Mental Health, Kevin Cokley

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

Dr. Kevin Cokley's Keynote Address

Division 17 President Conversation Hour With Students, Mel Wilcox Phd

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

Division 17 President Conversation Hour with Students