Digital Commons Network^™

From Doubt To Degree: The Retention Of African-American Mother-Scholars, Tamala Y. Stallings

Dissertations

According to college student demographic data, the majority of undergraduate students are nontraditional. However a smaller portion of educational resources are allocated to retain nontraditional college students in comparison to traditional college students. An even smaller portion of resources are allocated for the retention of sub- populations of nontraditional college students, such as Mother-Scholars. Therefore it is imperative for postsecondary institutions to understand the needs of sub-populations like Mother-Scholars and adequately apportion resources to increase their retention.

Upon matriculation, Mother-Scholars encounter systemic barriers within their institutions that impede their college persistence. Furthermore, because of their intersectionality, Mother-Scholars have college experiences …

Exploring The Relationship Between Financial Transparency And Sustainability Transparency In The Fashion Industry, Sohaila Hussaini

Dissertations

The focus of this research is to investigate the relationship between the corporate sustainability attributes of financial transparency and sustainability transparency in the fashion industry. Many firms in the fashion industry disclose sustainability reports to communicate their efforts and activities for promoting sound environmental, social, and governance-related policies and practices. However, recent literature suggests that within the fashion industry, incomplete disclosures and a general lack of transparency diminish the usefulness and effectiveness of such reports. This study seeks to ascertain whether observed shortcomings associated with environmental, social, and/or governance-related disclosures are associated with similar shortcomings in corporate financial reporting completeness …

Ways To Prevent Moral Disengagement For Youtube Content Creators: The Role Of Empathy And Self-Compassion, Nathan Andrew Pennington

Dissertations

This study sought to assess the role empathy and self-compassion play in lessening the impact of stress and moral disengagement for digital entrepreneurs, specifically, YouTube content creators. The desire for status and the need for venture legitimacy within the content creation economy, while considered mostly positive traits, can be taken to the extreme, leading to a lack of empathy and self-compassion and even degradation and moral disengagement. The study utilized a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques. Quantitative data within the study provides statistical evidence of correlations and trends, while qualitative data discusses the perspectives and lived …

The Aftermath Of The First Children Of Brown: Stories Of Housing And Education Racial Disparities In St. Louis, Missouri 1950-1970, Benard Diggs

Dissertations

This study explores residential segregation in two prominently African-American neighborhoods in St. Louis. It is based on past and current scholarship and examines the impact of historical and current housing and educational policies, consequently creating persistent racial disparities. According to Rothstein (2017), past governmental influence played a significant role in creating what he calls government-sponsored urban ghettos in cities across the United States today. St. Louis has been a residentially segregated city for many years. This study looks at St. Louis-specific research about housing, patterns, educational outcomes, and neighborhood experiences of the interview participants. The responses given by the participants …

High-Resolution Spectroscopy Of Interstellar Lines And Comets, Chemeda Ejeta

Dissertations

The study of interstellar molecules such as CO is crucial because interstellar ices in the core of a pre-solar molecular cloud provide the starting point for volatile evolution in the protoplanetary disk. A record of the initial volatile composition of the protoplanetary disk can be obtained from the study of the chemical composition of cometary nuclei. Because of their long residence in the Oort cloud and infrequent passage through the inner solar system, long-period comets are one of the most primitive bodies in our solar system that can tell us about the composition of the early solar system. High-resolution infrared …

The Permanence Of Racism In Tennessee Public Schools, Jarral Yokley

Dissertations

The qualitative case study exposed the permanence of racism beginning in the antebellum public schools of Nashville and continued in the current actions in the Tennessee legislature with the expulsion of two Black male legislators. Critical race theory is used as the main descriptor for the actions of White politicians and legislators in Tennessee who continue the oppressive treatment of Black people in the state of Tennessee.

White members of the Tennessee legislature have attempted to strategically continue white supremacy in their decision to display a depiction of one of the most deplorable, racists in the history of the state …

The Impact Of A Mindfulness Meditation Intervention On Cognitive Test Anxiety And The Academic Performance Of Prelicensure Nursing Students Enrolled In An Associate Degree In Nursing Program, Kathleen Tenrreiro

Dissertations

Fifty to 100% of nursing students have experienced test anxiety. The cognitive form of test anxiety (CTA) leads to significant academic implications for nursing students. The ongoing nursing shortage requires nurse educators to implement evidence-based strategies, such as mindfulness meditation training, to help prelicensure nursing students manage their CTA levels and enhance academic performance.

The purpose of this quantitative study was two-fold: (a) to determine if there was a difference in cognitive test anxiety scores for prelicensure nursing students enrolled in an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program who receive the mindfulness meditation intervention and (b) to determine if there …

Expanding Community Capacity: Empowering Non-Clinical Gatekeepers To Respond To Persons In Suicide Crisis, Michael J. Polacek

Dissertations

Suicide is a leading cause of death and rates continue to rise despite focused efforts by policymakers. A family member, friend, or peer often plays a key role in initially identifying, rescuing, and then supporting ongoing recovery efforts of someone at risk for suicide. Preparation is provided through suicide prevention gatekeeper training such as QPR, yet this partner of direct professional service providers often lacks adequate support to effectively perform gatekeeper behaviors leading to the research question, "Does virtual café support effective gatekeeper behaviors?" The project uses a mixed-method approach to determine if a focused discussion group using The World …

Identifying Learning Acquired During Debriefing, Shelly J. Reed

Dissertations

Debriefing, the reflective activity following an experiential learning exercise, has been identified as the most important part of simulation learning and is also important for learning in other activities utilized in nursing education. There is general agreement that debriefing provides learning and improves performance. However, there is little specific evidence about the phenomenon of learning acquired during debriefing, including how it occurs, how it is defined and identified, and how it is evaluated by debriefing facilitators. In addition, there are no instruments or tools specifically measuring learning acquired during debriefing. Without practical and theoretically grounded tools, simulation activities will continue …

Design Thinking’S Effect On Empathy Development In Middle School English- Language Arts, Kim Starkey

Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore the impact of Design Thinking on students' empathy development in middle school English Language Arts (ELA) classrooms. The study involved two middle school instructors with eight classes, implementing Design Thinking, Reader's Workshop, and traditional ELA curriculum in different combinations (n =102) and two control classes (n =27).

The Adolescent Empathy Measure (AMES) and rubrics for analyzing student writing samples were used to assess changes in empathy. The AMES was given before and after the interventions, and the writing samples were analyzed before and after the interventions as well. The findings indicate …

Financial Stress Factors, Psychological Factors And Self-Management Outcomes In Emerging Adults With Type 1 Diabetes, Julia E. Blanchette

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between financial stress factors and psychological factors on self-management outcomes (glycemic control [HbA1c] and diabetes-related quality of life [DQoL]) in emerging adults ages 18-25 with type 1 diabetes (T1D) during the transition from pediatric to adult diabetes care. A descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional study design was employed. Emerging adults enrolled in the T1D Exchange Clinic Registry were recruited via email.

Personal Disruption Strategies Used By K-12 Female Superintendents For Career Advancement, Tricia Thompson

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this explanatory mixed methods study was to identify and describe the perceived impact of W. Johnson and Mohr’s (2019) five disruptive career skills on female K-12 superintendents from an elementary background to their advancement to an executive leadership position. Methodology: This explanatory mixed methods study identified and described the experiences of eight female K-12 Superintendents from California in the area of personal disruption strategies. Respondents were purposively chosen based on specific criteria and recommendations of an expert panel of experts. Data were collected, mean scores were tabulated, and themes were formed with regard to the five …

Lost In Interpretation: The Lived Experience Of Nurse Interpreters In The Clinical Setting, Byron Batz

Dissertations

The use of language interpreters in the health care setting constitutes a vital part of provider-patient communication but remains a relatively unexplored phenomenon. Registered nurses (RNs) are often called upon to serve as interpreters when linguistically diverse patients constitute a large segment of the patient population. That RNs serve simultaneously in an interpreter role – in addition to clinical and advocacy roles – is a complex facet of contemporary nursing practice in a diverse U.S. culture. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to examine the lived experience of RNs serving as interpreters in health care institutions in Southern …

The Effect Of Moral Distress On Nursing Retention In The Acute Care Setting, Cynthia L. Cummings

Dissertations

This descriptive study explored the relationship between moral distress, professional stress and intent to stay in the hospital setting. The study involved 234 nursing participants and was conducted via an online survey over a 90 day period. The survey tool consisted of 51 items taken from known moral distress, professional stress and intent to stay tools. The items were divided into frequency and intensity of occurrence. Various statistical measures were utilized to conclude that moral distress and professional stress factors were significant (p

The results confirmed that there was a correlation between moral distress and professional stress with regard to …

Predictive Modelling Of Road Deterioration Using An Artificially Intelligent Bayesian Belief Networks Approach, Babitha Elizabeth Philip

Dissertations

The ability to predict road deterioration is the cornerstone for developing a reliable Pavement Management System (PMS) that optimizes pavement maintenance programs. Such prediction capacity becomes increasingly important, especially when highway agency funds are confined. This research focuses on the development of prediction models based on an artificial intelligence technique, Bayesian Belief Networks (BBN), that aid decision-makers in forecasting expected road distress curves on the lights of various (e.g., environmental, traffic, and road-specific) factors and maintenance decisions. The novelty of this research revolves around deploying BBNs which allow analysts to yield Markovian predictions of annual road deterioration based on incomplete …

Quad Bike Injuries In The United Arab Emirates: Evidence For Injury Prevention Strategies, Preetha Menon Karuveetil

Dissertations

Quad bikes, also known as All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), are versatile vehicles designed for navigating uneven terrain. Originally intended for agricultural purposes, they have gained popularity for recreational use, particularly in the middle east, notably the United Arab Emirates (UAE). While these vehicles offer health benefits, they are associated with substantial safety risks, resulting in injuries ranging from lacerations to severe traumatic injuries, imposing a significant economic burden on healthcare systems.

This research addresses a critical gap in the existing literature by focusing on quad bike injuries in the unique context of the UAE, taking into account its desert environment, rider …

A Comparative Analysis Of Demographic And Academic Characteristics And Nclex-Rn Passing Among Urban And Rural Campus Students In A Midwest Associate Degree Nursing Program, Kathleen J. Nacos-Burds

Dissertations

A retrospective study was initiated to determine: (1) the predictive relationship between demographic and academic variables and NCLEX-RN success; and (2) if there were significant differences between urban and rural nursing students that could account for an increased percentage of rural NCLEX-RN failures. A convenience sample was comprised of 398 graduates in 2005-2008, of an associate degree nursing program in the Midwest. Student age group, campus enrolled, Anatomy and Physiology GPA, number of practical nursing terms attempted, Practical Nursing GPA, and the number of associate degree nursing terms attempted were analyzed for predictive value of first-attempt NCLEX-RN success.

Assessing Small And Medium Enterprises’ Innovation Capabilities Within A Rapid Economic Transformation: An Empirical Study In Saudi Arabia, Mohanad Jabreel Aboudayah

Dissertations

The theory of dynamic capability posits that environmental uncertainty and organizational flexibility drive the growth of innovation capability at the firm level. Environmental uncertainty is the inability of the firm to quickly and accurately forecast changes in economic conditions. Building innovation capability can mitigate environmental uncertainty and enable the firm to gain a competitive advantage by innovating continually in response to evolving circumstances. Organizational flexibility, a key element of the firm’s managerial capabilities, is necessary but not sufficient to attenuate environmental uncertainty. Organizational flexibility enables the firm to identify and assess emerging opportunities, but pursuing those opportunities requires innovation capability. …

A Data-Efficient Approach For Effective Diagnosis Of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy From Echocardiography Modality, Moomal Farhad

Dissertations

Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH) is a medical condition characterized by the thickening and enlargement of the left ventricle (LV) of the heart. Accurate and timely diagnosis of LVH is vital for clinical prognosis and treatment decisions. Echocardiography has emerged as the gold standard for diagnosing LVH due to its ability to independently predict long-term risks such as heart failure and stroke. Echocardiography, a non-invasive and cost-effective imaging technology, is instrumental in assessing various aspects of heart health. Among the critical diagnostic calculations made possible by echocardiography, the determination of ejection fraction and heart chamber size is paramount in assessing LVH. …

Intelligent Computation Offloading In Edge And Cloud Internet Of Vehicles System, Huned Yusufbhai Materwala

Dissertations

The emergence of Internet of Vehicles technology through Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks represents a promising development in the realm of smart city. It empowers the development of smart city applications with a primary focus on improving traffic safety, optimizing traffic flow, and enhancing the overall driving experience. These applications come with demanding quality of service requirements outlined in Service Level Agreements (SLAs). They are communication-intensive, requiring a real-time response, and computation-intensive, demanding high processing. Due to inherent limitations in the computational and storage capacities of vehicles, the system relies on offloading application requests to edge and cloud computing infrastructures. However, the …

Not All Best Practices Result In Best Performances: Two Empirical Studies Of Online Accounting Education, Mark Sanders

Dissertations

Exploring the impact of specific pedagogical strategies in online accounting education on student learning outcomes is central to this research. This two-study dissertation focuses on the influence of course delivery methods on student performance and the mediating function of accounting efficacy. A diverse sample of accounting and business students was quantitatively analyzed to determine the relationship between course structure, classroom justice, students’ motivation and their accounting efficacy, applicability of learned material, and final grades. Even though certain teaching practices were advantageous, the combination of these practices did not always lead to improved student performance, according to the findings. Significant determinants …

Restricted Powers, Special-Purpose Districts, And Path Dependence: Economic Graveyards In Downstate Illinois, Bethany Behrhorst

Dissertations

Property taxation in the United States is a critical issue warranting examination because it involves the directed distribution of government costs and benefits for citizens. The central question exists: Why are Illinois’ property taxes so high? Path dependence was explored as a theory to explain Illinois’ property tax reliance issues, asserting that as local governmental units in the State face budget limitations, they find alternative revenue streams. For example, restricted powers could lead to the development of quasi-governments, which are known as special-purpose districts. In such cases, once general-purpose municipalities charter a course by creating special-purpose districts, it is difficult …

The Caregiver Of The Child With Cerebral Palsy: The Unnoticed Victim, Taylor Tusinski

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to better understand the overall quality of life (QoL) in the primary caregiver who provides care to the child or adolescent, aged 0-17 with mild, moderate, or severe Cerebral Palsy (CP). This study aligned with a nonexperimental or observational design and examined the severity level of CP and the QoL in the mother and/or father.

For research question 1, regression results indicated that the overall model did not significantly predict the mother’s and father’s QoL [R² = .000, R² _adj = -.012, F(1,80) = .003, p = .957]. Regression results indicated that …

Perceptions Of Teaching Effectiveness Of Part-Time And Full-Time Clinical Nursing Faculty Of Bsn Education, Kimberly L. De Santis

Dissertations

The United States faces a critical shortage of full-time registered nurses, which is directly affected by the shortage of nurse educators. Many schools of nursing are already seeing the impact as qualified program applicants are being turned away due to the lack of qualified educators available to teach them. The trend has become to employ increasing numbers of part-time faculty who have a clinical focus in their education. There is much debate about the clinical teaching effectiveness of part-time faculty. One way to assess quality of education is to assess teacher effectiveness. The purpose of this quantitative, descriptive, study was …

Σπλαγχνιζομαι And The Characterization Of The Markan Jesus, Jonathan W. Bryant

Dissertations

Amid scholarly studies both of the miracle stories of the Markan Jesus and of the characterization of the Markan Jesus, little attention has been given to the role of Jesus’s emotions as portrayed in those accounts—though references to Jesus’ emotions appear quite frequently in the Gospel of Mark. This dissertation seeks to fill this lacuna through a detailed analysis of the portrayal of Jesus’s compassion (σπλαγχνίζομαι) in the Markan miracle stories. I first examine the accounts of other miracle workers from ancient Greco-Roman and Jewish literature to discover how emotions feature in the depictions of miracle workers likely known in …

Institutional Experiences Of Justice-Involved Adolescents: Profiles, Predictors, And Post-Release Associations, Elizabeth Sargent

Dissertations

Experiences within juvenile justice placements have long been a topic of concern amongst researchers and policy makers, with institutional violence exposure and harsh treatment being two such reasons for concern. The majority of adolescents who enter the justice system already have extensive violence exposure, which can continue while they are detained through victimization and witnessed violence. One’s adjustment to justice settings is influenced by characteristics and experiences prior to placement, and institutional experiences may also have influences on mental health and behavior after release. In the current study, reports from justice-involved adolescents were used to 1) identify profiles of institutional …

Identifying Factors Affecting Saudi Nurses’ Intentions To Report Medication Errors In Arar Hospitals, Ohoud Aldughmi

Dissertations

Background: Medication errors are the most common safety issues in Saudi Arabia. To avoid medication errors, Saudi hospitals need to identify the causes of errors by encouraging reporting errors. Most Saudi nurses do not report errors because of the blaming culture. Therefore, Saudi nurses need a psychological safe environment that encourages nurses to admit and report errors. Even if establishing a good error reporting system is helpful, Saudi health organizations need to discover nurses' perceptions, attitudes, norms, behaviors, and intentions regarding medication error reporting. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors affecting the intention of Saudi …

Environments Of War: The Pacific Northwest And The Waging Of World War Ii, Katherine L. Macica

Dissertations

The Pacific Northwest served an essential role in America’s “Arsenal of Democracy.” Weapons and material produced in the Northwest proved essential to the Allied victory in World War II. These weapons served as agents of destruction abroad, but became agents of transformation for the places in which they were produced. This dissertation examines four of the most important resources and industries in Oregon and Washington to emerge or expand as a result of the war: hydroelectric power, forest products, shipbuilding, and aircraft manufacture. The wartime development of these industries profoundly reshaped the physical and economic landscape of the Pacific Northwest, …

Disaster Movies And The Perception Of Human Behavior Myths In Disasters, John Carr

Dissertations

This study explored if disaster movies change the perceptions viewers hold regarding human behavior in disasters, and if so, whether these effects are observable six weeks after watching the disaster movie. The study documented the anticipation of disaster myths in human behavior for 121 respondents, providing data that can better inform the discussion of disaster myths and realities. The study found changes to anticipation of disaster myths in human behavior and realities across multiple categories, with statistically significant results related to the factor of Looting Myth. Limitations for this study include a small sample size, and the external influence of …

English Language Learners And Their Access To Postsecondary Education: Examining Their Achievements And College Readiness Through Educators’ Experiences And Perspectives, Anna Kalinowska

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to bring awareness to the issue of English learners (ELs) being unprepared for college and to study the beliefs and perceptions of educators regarding the factors that contribute to the creation of an achievement gap between EL students and traditional students. The study involved an analysis of trends in the perceptions of school counselors, teachers, and administrators regarding EL students being ready to attend college. Data were collected from nine participants from three public high schools in Pinellas County using Zoom and email interviews and then analyzed. Four main themes emerged from the …