Digital Commons Network^™

Three Essays On The Relationship Between Policy Uncertainty And Foreign Direct Investment, Chikezie Kenneth Okoli

Dissertations

Foreign direct investment (FDI) occurs when an entity in one country establishes a significant degree of ownership in an enterprise in another country. FDI is a critical component in ensuring the development of any economy. It often aids with the development of an industry or sector within an economy by bringing in capital, new technologies, manufacturing methodologies, and managing expertise to the receiving country. This dissertation examines the relationship between policy uncertainty and foreign direct investment (FDI) in developed economies.

The first essay focuses on U.S. policy uncertainty and its effects on U.S. FDI inflows, while the second essay focuses …

Preclinical Behavioral Assessment Of Chronic, Intermittent Low-Dose Psilocybin In Rodent Models Of Depression And Anxiety, Harmony I. Risca

Dissertations

Recent studies have demonstrated the clinical efficacy of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for treatment-resistant depression and anxiety. Amidst the overall success of recent clinical trials using a single high dose of psilocybin, anecdotal reports indicate anxiolytic and antidepressant effects following a repeated low dose regimen. As therapeutic outcomes are often tightly intertwined with the individual’s subjective experience, animal models are used as objective measures to investigate the underlying mechanisms responsible for the putative antidepressant/anxiolytic effects of psychedelics. Three rodent models predictive of anxiolytic or antidepressant effects were used to evaluate effects of chronic intermittent low dose (CILD) psilocybin treatment; the Light/Dark conflict …

The Potential Of Virtual Reality In Social Skills Training For Autism: Bridging The Gap Between Research And Adoption Of Virtual Reality In Occupational Therapy Practice, Vineeta Pandey, Lori Vaughn

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Impairments in social functioning greatly hinder children and youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from responding appropriately and adapting to various social situations. As a result, individuals with ASD get fewer opportunities for social inclusion, physical well-being, and forming interpersonal relationships. Virtual reality (VR) has been studied extensively in this area, where a large body of evidence shows that VR is a promising tool for social skills training (SST) in individuals with ASD. With the flexibility and projected effectiveness that VR offers, it can provide more opportunities to learn and practice strategies for recognizing daily challenges that involve forming social …

A Comparison Of Two Keyboarding Instruction Methods Over 2 Years For Elementary Students, Denise K. Donica, Peter Giroux, Young Joo Kim, Sydney Branson

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: As computer and digital device use continues to grow in prevalence for school and work tasks, it is important for elementary-aged students to develop efficient keyboarding skills to support future academic and vocational success.

Method: A quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test study design was used to compare the effect of two different keyboarding instructional approaches on elementary students over a consecutive 2-year period. One group used Keyboarding Without Tears (KWT; N = 592) both years while the other group used free web-based activities the first year and Keyboarding Without Tears the second year (mixed methods; N = 714). …

Promoting Population Health In Local Communities: Parental Perceptions Of An Embedded Movement And Physical Activity Program For A Preschool Population, Jennifer Hight, Shirley P. O'Brien, Colleen M. Schneck

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Many children reach kindergarten lacking age-appropriate motor skills because of a lack of access to early intervention services or a lack of continued early intervention beyond 3 years of age. Research suggests sedentary children become sedentary adults, which contributes to a growing population of unhealthy Americans with chronic health conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and psychosocial difficulties. Parents often are not aware of the benefits of engaging in physical activity or possess a lack of awareness of their local resources. A community based preschool movement program was created to foster physical activity and promote …

Preliminary Measurement Properties Of The Early Childhood Occupational Profile (Ecope), Cary C. Moore

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: This study established the preliminary psychometric properties of the Early Childhood Occupational Profile (ECOPE; Moore & Bowyer, 2018) and investigated the perspectives of occupational therapists on the clinical utility of the tool.

Method: An embedded mixed methods research design was used to support the use of different research questions and unique sets of data. National and international occupational therapists administered the ECOPE on video case studies and on children from their caseload. These data were analyzed using the Rasch goodness of fit statistics to evaluate the validity and reliability of the ECOPE. The participating occupational therapists also …

Plagiocephaly Perception And Prevention: A Need To Intervene Early To Educate Parents, Sonja Burmeister, Allison N. Kayne, Ali R. Yazdanyar, J. Nathan Hagstrom, David B. Burmeister

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Plagiocephaly is a condition where the cranium has been malformed because of external forces or premature cranial suture fusion. This study’s objective was to gather and examine data regarding parent and caregiver awareness of plagiocephaly and its potential impact on development as well as to determine their rate of concern for positional flattening.

Method: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted. Categorical variables were described by frequency and proportions. The study was conducted across eight outpatient pediatric sites. Approximately 1,100 parents and caregivers were targeted. Inclusion criteria required participants to be willing to answer the questionnaire, to be …

Occupational Therapists’ Perceptions Of Intraprofessional Collaboration When Working With Young Children Aged Birth To 3 Years, Christine Rocchio Mueller, Mindy Garfinkel

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Birth to 3 years of age is a critical period in a child’s development, and occupational therapy intervention during this period can serve many purposes. While pediatric occupational therapists may be working in different settings with different specialties, the foundational knowledge all occupational therapists possess provides a common lens through which they approach treatment. Intraprofessional collaboration is considered best practice, as it is not uncommon for young children to receive occupational therapy services by more than one therapist, and in more than one practice setting at the same time.

Method: This study used a qualitative, phenomenological approach. …

Adaptations To Early Intervention Service Delivery During Covid-19, Lauren Little, Ashley Stoffel

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Early Intervention (EI) systems made a rapid shift to telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the limited preparation of EI providers in the telehealth service delivery model, it is unclear how providers implemented adaptations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the factor structure of the Service Delivery Adaptations Questionnaire and examine the influence of provider type, years of EI experience, and willingness to return to in-person services on the questionnaire’s subscales.

Method: We used exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to examine the structure of the Service Delivery Adaptations Questionnaire among n = 704 EI providers. We …

Occupational Therapists’ Perspectives On Family-Centered Practices In Early Intervention, Irma J. Pereira, Francine M. Seruya

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Early intervention (EI) requires service provision in natural settings while incorporating interventions based on family-centered practice (FCP). This study sought to understand (a) how occupational therapists define and implement FCP in their daily interventions and (b) therapists’ perspectives on using this model of practice in EI.

Method: This study used a qualitative, phenomenological approach. Nine licensed occupational therapists from six states with a minimum of 3 years of working experience in the area of EI participated. Semi-structured interviews were recorded, transcribed, and subsequently coded and analyzed for emergent themes.

Results: The therapists had an average of …

Bringing The Family To The Center Of Early Intervention Practice In Occupational Therapy, Beth K. Elenko

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Environmental Justice Analysis Of Drinking Water Policies In Michigan Cities, Annika Paldan

Honors Theses

This thesis examined environmental justice aspects of drinking water policies in four cities across Michigan: Flint, Birmingham, St. Joseph, and Benton Harbor. An overview of the history of the environmental justice movement, environmental racism, and drinking water policies provided the basis for a four-part evaluative criterion to assess environmental justice components at the municipal level. These criteria include (1) housing tenure, (2) age, size, and service line composition of the infrastructure, (3) public participation in the policy process, and (4) emergency management of the city. Findings indicate that environmental justice has come a long way, with cities now incorporating components …

Wmu Board Of Trustees Formal Session June 24, 2021, Wmu Board Of Trustees

WMU Board of Trustees Meetings

Acceptance of the Agenda – Chen-Zhang

Approval of the Minutes (April 22, 2021 Meeting) – Chen-Zhang

Remarks by the Chair – Chen-Zhang

Remarks by the President – Montgomery

Comments by the Faculty Senate President – Kritzman

Comments by the Western Student Association President – Morris

Comments by the Graduate Student Association Interim President – Hiremath

Public Comments Regarding Action Items – Schuemann

• Action Items – Chen-Zhang

Trustee Emeritus Recognition for Ron Kitchens – Schuemann

Honorary Degree for Audrey Morean Petersen – Montgomery

Academic Tenure and Promotion – Bott

Sale of Parcel in WMU BTR2 to Kalamazoo County Consolidated Dispatch Authority …

Community Attitudes Toward Police In Benton Harbor And St. Joseph, Michigan, Brian Molina

Dissertations

The present study sought to help investigate which public safety interventions may be appropriate for improving the safety and quality of life of Benton Harbor community members. To begin answering this question, researchers collected baseline measures of community attitudes toward police (ATP). St. Joseph residents were sampled to allow for a direct comparison of two sister cities within the same county, with nearly opposite racial and economic characteristics.

To obtain these data, surveys were administered to both Benton Harbor and St. Joseph community members. There were nine demographic/predictor variables included in the community perception survey. The variables were (a) location, …

Michigan Municipal Manager Perceptions On Lgbtq+ Inclusion: A Narrative Policy Framework Case Study, Christopher R. Surfus

Dissertations

This study explores the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions (KAP) of municipal managers regarding the LGBTQ+ community in three Michigan cities—Grand Rapids, Holland, and Kalamazoo. The purpose is to understand managers’ beliefs and attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community and how policies are implemented and enforced to reduce discrimination. The specific research questions deal with how the beliefs and attitudes of public managers reflect an understanding of and competency on LGBTQ+ issues, how they are affected by the presence of LGBTQ+ staff members, and how they differ from the actual policy provisions affecting the LGBTQ+ community. These questions are examined in the …

The Political Economy Of American Militarism: The Military- Industrial Complex, Power Elite, And The 2003 Invasion Of Iraq, Randy S. La Prairie

Dissertations

Sociologists have paid little attention to the structural causes of American participation in wars. Consequently, the discipline offers few theoretical perspectives on American war making. Sociological theories that do exist fall under two headings: state-centric and Marxist theories. Both lack prima facie plausibility. In this dissertation, I advance a unique, alternative theoretical framework that I argue offers a more tenable theory of American militarism in the post-World War II period. The elite model of war mobilization, as I refer to it, consists of five interrelated structural causes of American participation in wars: (1) state-capitalist imperialism; (2) elite control of public …

2021-05-31_Michiganoverview_Covidschooloutbreak, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 Outbreak Reports

The School Outbreak Data page was obtained from Michigan's COVID-19 data page: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98163_98173_102480---,00.html.

This report is created by the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services from data self-reported by local health departments. Data is updated every week.

In accordance with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists’ outbreak definition, schools that have been found by their local health department to have two (2) or more COVID-19 cases who may have shared exposure at the school grounds and are not from the same household (with the exception of dorms and off-campus housing) are included. If your child’s school is …

Thinking Queerly: Medievalism, Wizardry, And Neurodiversity In Young Adult Texts, Jes Battis

Premodern Transgressive Literatures

Why do we love wizards? Where do these magical figures come from? Thinking Queerly traces the wizard from medieval Arthurian literature to contemporary YA adaptations. By exploring the link between Merlin and Harry Potter, or Morgan la Fey and Sabrina, readers will see how the wizard offers spaces of hope and transformation for young readers. In particular, this book examines how wizards think differently, and how this difference can resonate with both LGBTQ and neurodivergent readers, who’ve been told they don’t fit in.

2021-05-24_Michiganoverview_Covidschooloutbreak, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 Outbreak Reports

The School Outbreak Data page was obtained from Michigan's COVID-19 data page: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98163_98173_102480---,00.html.

This report is created by the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services from data self-reported by local health departments. Data is updated every week.

In accordance with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists’ outbreak definition, schools that have been found by their local health department to have two (2) or more COVID-19 cases who may have shared exposure at the school grounds and are not from the same household (with the exception of dorms and off-campus housing) are included. If your child’s school is …

A Review Of The Effects Of Virtual Communication On Performance And Satisfaction Across The Last Ten Years Of Research Published In The Journal Of Organizational Behavior Management And The Journal Of Applied Behavior Analysis, Muhammad Romail Khan

Honors Theses

Work and school settings have seen an overall increase in the use of virtual communication technology over the last decade (Kiers, 2020). This use of virtual communication technologies has seen an unprecedented growth in the year 2020 owing to the shelter-in-place and lockdown measures put in place due to the COVID-19 global pandemic (World Health Organization, 2020). Despite this increase in the use of virtual communication technologies, limited research has been conducted on the effects of delivering behavioral interventions through different virtual communication technologies on performance and satisfaction. The purpose of this literature review is to analyze the research conducted …

2021-05-17_Michiganoverview_Covidschooloutbreak, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 Outbreak Reports

The School Outbreak Data page was obtained from Michigan's COVID-19 data page: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98163_98173_102480---,00.html.

This report is created by the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services from data self-reported by local health departments. Data is updated every week.

In accordance with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists’ outbreak definition, schools that have been found by their local health department to have two (2) or more COVID-19 cases who may have shared exposure at the school grounds and are not from the same household (with the exception of dorms and off-campus housing) are included. If your child’s school is …

56th International Congress On Medieval Studies, Medieval Institute, Western Michigan University

International Congress on Medieval Studies Archive

The printed program of the 56th International Congress on Medieval Studies (live on the internet May 10-15, 2021), together with the Corrigenda.

Faculty Retirement Recognition Dinner 2021, Western Michigan University

Faculty Recognition

Faculty Retirement Recognition Dinner

May, 2021

Honored Guests:

• Haluk Aktan
• Donald Alexander
• Betsy M. Aller
• Mary L. Anderson
• Paula Andrasi
• Kailash M. Bafna
• Ila M. Baker
• Blair Balden
• Kent Baldner
• Jan Bedrosian
• Sharon Carlson
• Eva Copija
• David Curwen
• Mervyn Elliot
• P. Dan Fleming
• Yvonne Ford
• Sharon Garber
• Richard A. Gershon
• Susan Hoffmann
• Bradley Huitema
• Yvette D. Hyter
• Bharti Katbamna
• Alan E. Kehew
• William S. Kern
• Andrew Kline
• Mary D. Lagerwey
• Robert Landeros
• David S. Lemberg
• Daniel M. Litynski
• Mushtaq Luqmani
• D. Steven Mackey
• Niloufer Mackey
• Thomas C. Marks
• Joseph W. McKean
• Terrance Michmerhuizen
• Judy Moonert
• Michael S. Nassaney
• Susan Nelson …

Impact Of Tuition Resets On Student Enrollment At Private Four-Year Not-For-Profit Colleges And Universities: A Quantitative Analysis Of Ipeds Data, Brian T. Dietz

Dissertations

The high price of a college education can be a topic of interest, discussion, and at times, distress, for students, families, and higher education leaders alike. Research reveals cost is an important consideration for most students as they decide if and where to enroll in higher education. In recent decades, annual increases to the published price of tuition have often been followed by subsequent growth in financial assistance at many colleges and universities. One result of this reciprocal relationship has been a swift upward spiral in tuition prices, rising at a rate that prompts angst about the affordability of a …

Laugh Until It’S No Longer A Scandal: The Use Of Humorous Apologia To Reframe Crisis Narratives On Saturday Night Live, Vanessa S. Hills

Masters Theses

This thesis examines the role of humor-based apologia as a crisis communication strategy for celebrities. Using a rhetorical method, it explicates the role that humor plays in shaping crisis narratives in response to kategoria within the context of Saturday Night Live. Four case study analyses determine whether the generic parameters of apologia include the use of a humor-based apologia or whether humorous apologiae should be classified as a unique subgenre. These findings further the body of research on apologia and highlight the need for additional research on the effectiveness of humor as a crisis communication strategy.

The Library Of Babel, Jared Tubbs

Masters Theses

The Library of Babel is an installation that allows users to search through a sea of sonic and visual representations of alphabetical symbols and punctuation that are encompassed in an infinite textual library. Users peer through the various walls, shelves, and volumes of the library, searching for whatever they wish - be it meaning, sense within the chaos, or audiovisual euphony. The default sounds for symbols can be replaced by recordings that the user creates on location, allowing the user to provide their own sonic reconstructions of the Library’s contents. The Library of Babel breaks language into its constituent parts, …

Diverse Characterization: The Importance Of Inclusive Protagonists And Authors For Adolescents In Diverse Communities, Trista Straube

Masters Theses

Despite continuous efforts to increase comprehension and success for students of diverse backgrounds there is a major underrepresentation of these communities in literary applications. Literary devices within public institutions should celebrate diversity in race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, culture, and physical and mental ability. It is important, in young adult development, that students have literature that reflects similarities in their personal lives. This thesis will serve to prove that literature pursued in public education should be selected based on the relatability of the students enrolled in the institution and inclusivity to the student population. When selecting relatable texts, …

Students, The Complete Canvas: Building A Sel-Based Art Education Curriculum, Kaci Vanmeter

Masters Theses

Human beings are complex in their structure, requiring a variety of components to create the whole. Why is it then, that the majority of the nation’s schools lack educational standards for social-emotional learning? When student’s walk into our classroom, is there a silent request that they leave aspects of themselves at the door so as not to intrude on data-driven education? Where there is pressure in the form of funding and job security to strictly teach standards in core classrooms, luckily that pressure doesn’t exist in the art classroom. This thesis takes the National Visual Art Content Standards and directly …

The Lived Experiences Of African American Counselors: An Exploration Of Their Reactions To Trauma Survivors, Zanovia P. Tucker

Dissertations

Nearly 83% of Americans are exposed to a traumatic event (Benjet et al., 2016). Given this, every counselor will more than likely work with trauma survivors (Trippany et al., 2004). Because of the high percentage of exposure to trauma, mental health professions who service individuals who experience trauma are at risk for secondary trauma (Ivicic & Motta, 2016), vicarious traumatization (Culver et al., 2011), and shared trauma (Hope & Edward, 2013). African American counselors have not been recognized in the counseling literature; thus their work with trauma survivors and their training experiences remain relatively unknown. Most of the research pertaining …

Developing Creativity In The Seventh-Grade Art Classroom, Zachary Dane Wallerius

Masters Theses

This thesis describes a methodology for developing artistic creativity in seventh-grade students through the implementation of a curriculum that fosters authentic engagement with the creative process. In it I explore how student’s waning interest in the arts through middle school despite the value of creative expression for adolescents can be addressed. The research in this paper explores relevant aspects of artistic creativity as well as the psychological needs that must be met in order for students to successfully engage in a creative practice. The paper makes recommendations for how to foster common traits of creative people and proposes how behavior …