Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of Psychological Abuse On A Female’S Engagement In Subsequent Relationships And How They Heal From The Abuse, Nicole Kratimenos

Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study examined (a) the impact of psychological abuse on a female’s subsequent intimate relationships, and (b) what assisted the female victims of such abuse to heal and build subsequent healthy relationships. Psychological intimate partner abuse is connected to various long-term negative consequences, such as anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, self-esteem struggles and trust issues. However, no studies have investigated how these negative consequences affect the female victim’s subsequent intimate relationships, nor what helps the victim heal enough to move on to engaging in healthy subsequent relationships. This study is the first to examine both of these aspects of …

They Don'y Expect You To Know Much: Black African International Students Encountering And Countering The Afropessimistic Attitude Within Academic Spaces, Margaret Sergon

Dissertations

Black African international students in the United States are vulnerable to increased microaggressions because of their minority statuses. In addition to being Black and speaking with non-native accents, African students must contend with Afropessimism which in this study refers to the Western world’s negative perception of Africa. The study is a mixed methods study that seeks to understand how the Afropessimistic attitude impacts the way Black African international students are perceived and interacted with, within the academic spaces. The findings indicate that African international students consistently encounter the Afropessimistic attitude, and it impacts their academic engagement. The findings also suggest …

Understanding The Interfacial Processes Of Reactive Nanobubbles Toward Agricultural Applications, Xiaonan Shi

Dissertations

There is a growing interest in nanobubble (NB) technology because of its diverse applications (e.g., detergent-free cleaning, water aeration, ultra-sound imaging and intracellular drug delivery, and mineral processing). NBs have a higher efficiency of mass transfer compared to bulk scale bubbles due to the high specific surface areas. The high specific surface also facilitates physical adsorption and chemical reactions in the gas liquid interface. Furthermore, the collapse of NBs creates shock waves and the formation of hydroxyl radicals (OH).

However, it remains elusive why or how NBs are stabilized in water and particularly, the states of internal pressures of NBs …

Graph Enabled Cross-Domain Knowledge Transfer, Shibo Yao

Dissertations

The world has never been more connected, led by the information technology revolution in the past decades that has fundamentally changed the way people interact with each other using social networks. Consequently, enormous human activity data are collected from the business world and machine learning techniques are widely adopted to aid our decision processes. Despite of the success of machine learning in various application scenarios, there are still many questions that need to be well answered, such as optimizing machine learning outcomes when desired knowledge cannot be extracted from the available data. This naturally drives us to ponder if one …

Correlates Of Health Literacy And Perceptions Of Burden Among Caregivers Of Persons Diagnosed With Chronic Illnesses, Mubarak Aldawsare

Dissertations

Background/Rationale: Greater attention is needed on factors effectively supporting caregivers because poor well-being of caregivers can hamper overall patient outcomes. Lack of awareness of caregiver burden has implications for healthcare systems globally. Caregivers may encounter various levels of burden as a result of providing long-term care to individuals diagnosed with one or more chronic illnesses. Caregivers with inadequate health literacy are more likely to experience feelings of uncertainty, and as a result, caregiver burden. Little is known about the impact of the health literacy of caregivers on the level of burden when providing care to individuals with complex care …

An Exploratory Study On How Math Stories Engage Young Learners In Mathematical Sense-Making, Maria Gigi Carunungan

Dissertations

This is an exploratory study of how pedagogy in the form of math stories, shapes young learners’ perceptions, motivations, and sense-making of math concepts. The research is presented in an exploratory documentary, with audio-video data collected through the iPhone. The pilot test of story-driven math learning solutions was conducted by two teachers with eight first grade children from diverse backgrounds in an afterschool program. This study also includes interviews of the teachers, educational leaders and specialists in primary school curricula, children’s literature, and math education. The results of the pilot validated the efficacy of story-driven math learning solutions for mathematical …

Pertenecemos: Trajectories Of Belonging, Knowing, And Discovering For Underrepresented Undergraduate Communicative Disorders And Sciences Students In California State Universities, Marcella C. Mccollum

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the ways that seniors in undergraduate programs in speech, language, and hearing sciences engaged with the department as they entered into their undergraduate programs, the factors that they considered when deciding whether to apply to graduate school in speech-language pathology, and perceptions of supports and barriers to entering into graduate school. This study partnered with seniors enrolled in public California university programs designed for future speech-language pathologists. A mixed methods design was utilized to provide a holistic account of student experiences. Three major themes emerged from the study. Throughout the process within …

The Role Of School Counselors In Advocating For Social Justice For All Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Amna Jaffer

Dissertations

The field of K–12 school counseling has evolved to embrace social–emotional and mental wellness aspects of students in addition to academic and career/college readiness. Social justice advocacy has been added to the role of school counselor by professional and educational entities. What is less clear is how well-versed school counselors are in social justice advocacy competencies, whether they are equipped to lead and advocate for social justice, barriers and accomplishments in doing so, and ways in which this role may be further developed and integrated into the field of school counseling, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. As …

Academic Trajectories Of Students With Disabilities And Caregiver Perspectives On Distance Learning In The Covid-19 Pandemic, Charlene Lee

Dissertations

As research on student learning during the COVID-19 pandemic continue to emerge, there remains a dearth of research on students with IEPs and how their caregivers experienced remote learning in a pandemic school year. This study examined the academic trajectories of students with IEPs and their caregivers’ perspectives towards distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Measures included academic data extracted from the 2018–2019 school year and 2020–2021 school year and a survey of parental and caregiver opinions of the pandemic’s impact. Student academic data (N = 270) revealed a significant decrease in reading but not math trajectories. Notable differences were …

Faculty And Administrator Perspectives On Campus Internationalization At Selected California State University And University Of California Campuses: Individual Efforts And Interconnected Roles, Parinaz Zartoshty

Dissertations

This explanatory mixed-method research study explored campus internationalization trends by examining the practices of faculty and administrators engaged in campus internationalization efforts at selected four-year public institutions in Northern California. Most survey respondents and interviewees recognized the importance of internationalization, prompted greatly by their own personal transformational “international” journey, making them identifiable champions who can assist in promoting internationalization efforts. Most maintained that the system and their individual institutions do not provide adequate incentives to those faculty who are not personally motivated to engage in international activities and acknowledged internationalization does not float to the top of priorities. In instances …

Student Engagement And Universal Design For Learning (Udl): A Community College Case Study, Candice R. Nance

Dissertations

Community colleges have a significant impact on education. The community college population includes some of the most vulnerable students who have the most to gain from educational attainment. The objective of this mixed-methods case study was to investigate the practical implications and impact of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) on student learning, engagement, and sense of belonging. Forty-nine students participated in this study from seven sections of an asynchronous introduction to business course at a California community college during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings suggested that the UDL intervention increased students’ final grade percentages, exam scores, and group project scores while …

Core Principles Of Early Childhood Education Through The Lens Of California's Transitional Kindergarten Teachers And Administrators, Furwa T. Rizvi

Dissertations

California's public-school system recently introduced another grade level, Transitional Kindergarten, as an opportunity to offer universal access to early education for all 4-year-olds. Elementary school teachers and administrators must be well prepared to support and education these young children. This dissertation focuses on four key principles to ensure high-quality learning: Developmentally Appropriate Practices, Social and Emotional Learning, Dual Language Learning, and Early Intervention. To gain a better understanding of teacher and administrator perspectives on these core principles of early childhood education, a comprehensive survey was administered online, with a total of # teacher and # administrator respondents. Results indicate that …

Cardiology Implications Of Ed Covid-19 Patients In An Underserved Rural Health Care Environment, Pedro Colio

Dissertations

Background/Purpose: Positive COVID-19 patients with chronic comorbidities have been associated with severe cardiac complications (e.g., STEMI, NSTEMI, myocarditis, pericarditis, AF) specifically among underserved communities. Acute STEMI and NSTEMI are cardiac conditions associated with ruptured atherosclerotic plaque leading to significant myocardial injury. AF, the most common arrhythmia leading to cerebrovascular accidents, is also common in hospitalized patients with severe illnesses. Myocarditis and pericarditis are inflammatory heart conditions associated with acute viral infections. According to the literature, these cardiac issues have been linked as complications of COVID-19. COVID 19 is an emerging, complex, and costly public health challenge globally with potential lifelong …

Trauma Recidivism: Threat Orientations And Recurrent Injury Perceptions, Molly Bauer, Ann M. Mayo

Dissertations

Purpose: To describe select sociodemographic and clinical variables, threat orientations, and the perceived likelihood of recurrent injury (PLRI) of individuals deemed at risk for trauma recidivism (TR).

Background: Injuries and violence are the leading cause of traumatic death among persons aged 1 to 44 in the United States. Trauma recidivism occurs when an individual experiences more than one significant injury requiring hospital care in a five-year period. The relationship between a trauma recidivist’s perception of recurrent injury and orientation towards a threat remains unclear.

Conceptual Basis: Trauma recidivism risk factors contribute to forming an individual’s PLRI. When individuals acknowledge the …

Transitions In Palliative Care: Referral Time And Healthcare Utilization In Advanced Stage Colon, Rectal And Lung Cancer Patients., Ann Lawani

Dissertations

Background: Despite lung, colon, and rectal cancer being the leading and third leading cause of cancer-related death among both men and women respectively, few studies have examined Palliative Care Consultation (PCC) on healthcare utilization (HCU) in individuals with advanced stage diagnosis in this disease cohort. Extant research shows advanced stage cancer patients receive aggressive treatments, within the last 30 days of life. Palliative care is linked to less aggressive cancer treatment, and palliative interventions applied early, at diagnosis of advanced cancer, is more favorable for improving symptom and disease management. Patients and family members with early PCC are better informed …

The Hustler Award Program, Julia N. Biayi

Dissertations

Problem: Hospitalized adults are at increased risk of falling due to multiple aspects, including but not limited to changes in health status, the environment, pain, weakness, confusion, and prolonged immobility. This project focused on the question: How will the utilization of the Hustler Award Program decrease fall rates in an adult inpatient medical-surgical unit?

Method: A prospective quality improvement pilot study focused on a 24-bed medical-surgical unit in a Midwest, 487-bed metropolitan-based facility.

Results: The results captured are for the evaluation period occurring from September through November 2021. The staff responded to 52-bed exit alarms, which yielded a response rate …

Impact Of Preoperative Psychological Evaluations On Bariatric Surgery Outcomes, Melanie A. Caustrita

Dissertations

Obesity is a major global health challenge affecting 603.7 million adults and is a risk factor for common illnesses such as diabetes mellitus II, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and poorly controlled hypertension. Americans have the highest rate of obesity. Patients with a body mass index (BMI) > 35 with one or more obesity related complications should be considered for bariatric surgery. Forty percent of patients seeking obesity treatment have at least one psychiatric illness with mood and anxiety disorders being the most common. Preoperative screening is recommended to identify patients with psychosocial risk factors that may lead …

Implementation Of The Bedside Mobility Assessment Tool In The Ambulatory Care Setting, Racquel Hermosura Ballinger

Dissertations

Falls remain a concern for healthcare organizations nationally. Fall rates at the site remained a concern, so an evidence-based approach was sought. The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental quality improvement project was to determine if the implementation of Boynton's Bedside Mobility Assessment Tool (BMAT) used in conjunction with current fall practices would impact fall rates among patients 65 years and older undergoing a colonoscopy. The project was implemented in an ambulatory care setting in Southern California over four weeks. Sister Callista Roy's middle-range nursing theory, the adaptation model, and Neuman's systems theory were the scientific underpinnings of the project. Data …

From Empathy To Social Empathy: A Journey In A Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Workplace Graduate Certificate, Francesca Ferrari, Lisa M. Woodrum

Dissertations

This study aimed to explore and understand the impact of the Graduate Certificate in Workplace Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI Graduate Certificate) on master’s and doctoral students’ social empathy (SE) development. The participants in this certificate engaged in several online activities that increased their knowledge of microaggressions, privilege, and unconscious bias while building their social empathy. This certificate provided various tools and skills to its participants so that they might value diversity, look at the world from another’s perspective, and start a dialogue to promote social change. This case study involved 19 participants. To answer our research questions, we used …

Leading For Excellence, Erin Riley

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed methods study is to determine the degree of importance for the 12 step principles of leadership proposed by Harvey, Drolet, and DeVore (2014) to create a K-12 school environment that fosters high student achievement as perceived by public middle school principals. A secondary purpose is to explore and describe the leadership strategies for implementing the 12 step principles of leadership proposed by Harvey, Drolet, and DeVore (2014) to create a K-12 school environment that fosters high student achievement as perceived by public middle school principals.

Methodology: This explanatory mixed-methods study was completed to examine …

Learning To Fly: The Impact Of Project-Based Learning On Development Of The 4cs In The Elementary Grades, Deborah Francois

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to investigate the impact of project-based learning on K-5 students’ development of the 4Cs (Critical Thinking, Communication, Creativity, Collaboration) as perceived by elementary charter school teachers.

Methodology: A phenomenological design was selected to address the research questions for this study. Through purposeful sampling, 12 charter elementary teachers who met a pre-determined set of criteria (including the routine integration of project-based learning within their instructional programs) were selected to participate in virtual, semi-structured interviews. All teachers were employed by charter schools located in six counties within California. The interviews were conducted using …

School Administrator Preparation In Special Education: A Cross-Case Analysis, Emily Ruiz

Dissertations

Special education has been part of public education for 46 years and has evolved considerably in that time. Despite improvements made in special education law, there remains a disconnect between law and current practices. Several studies suggest this disconnect is associated with administrators’ insufficient preparation for supporting special education in their schools.

This study utilized an explanatory sequential design to study Southern California school principals’ special education preparation. During the first phase of the study, the researcher emailed surveys to administrators who were selected using a stratified random sampling strategy. Unfortunately, the response rate was too low to employ the …

A Study Of The Challenges Faced By Students Who Identify As Refugees Who Have Experienced Interrupted Education And Trauma, Merdin Mohammed

Dissertations

Every year, more than 65 million people are displaced worldwide. These refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced people flee conflict, poverty, environmental degradation, and other conditions forcing them from their homes. In 2020, the number of individuals internally displaced reached 82.4 million; of this total, 26.4 million were refugees. In 2021, of the 11,411 refugees resettled in the United States, 8.6% resettled in California. When refugee students come to San Diego, the majority resettle in the neighborhoods of City Heights and El Cajon. These refugee children have lived on the road or in refugee camps, faced consistent interruptions to a …

Gatekeeping Experiences Latina Superintendents Encountered As They Attained Their Superintendent Position, Julie Corona

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative multicase study was to describe the career path progression and the gatekeeping experiences as Latinas advanced to a superintendent position. The second purpose of this study was to describe the gatekeeping experiences of Latina superintendents’ application and interview process of their superintendency. Additionally, this study described Latina superintendents’ gatekeeping experiences of gender and ethnicity. Last, this study examined the strategies that Latina superintendents used as they ascended to their superintendent positions. Methodology: This phenomenological multicase study was conducted through interviews of five Latina superintendents of California public schools. The researcher selected a qualitative method …

Effectiveness Of Fall Prevention Multimedia Program On Patient Awareness, Self-Efficacy, And Engagement, Perlita C. Cerilo

Dissertations

Hospitalized adults are at high risk of falls during their acute episode of care making fall prevention programs a critical element of care. Patient self-efficacy and engagement in fall-prevention activities are important aspects of fall-prevention programs. Education may play an important role in increasing self-efficacy and the likelihood of engagement; however, a gap in evidence explores the effect of patient education on self-efficacy and engagement among hospitalized older adults in preventing falls. This quasi-experimental study examined the effect of a multimedia program on hospitalized adults' levels of fall risk awareness, self-efficacy, and engagement in fall prevention. Sixty hospitalized adults in …

Understanding Families'/Surrogate Decision Makers' Experience Of Decision Making For Critically Ill Patients In Saudi Arabia, Omaimah A. Qadhi

Dissertations

Critical illness not only affects patients, but also may negatively impact the families and people who are responsible to make decisions for those patients. Making decision can be challenging for people when it is for someone else who is critically ill. This study explores the decision-making experience for family or a surrogate decision maker for critically ill patients in Saudi Arabia. This project also tested the presence or absence of regret after making serious decisions about a medical treatment for another individual. Goal Attainment Theory was used to guide this study. The concepts of the Interpersonal Interacting Systems were used …

Digital Equity: Difficulties Of Implementing The 1:1 Computing Initiative In Low-Income Areas, Demetric D. Williams

Dissertations

Successful One-to-One Computing Initiative implementation requires educators to communicate and collaborate effectively with everyone in the learning community. However, other factors such as teacher’s professional development, student’s perception, and parent’s perception often affect the implementation of the One-to-One Computing Initiative. School districts, which serve low-income areas in Mississippi, have difficulties ensuring students and communities have access to the information technology they need to participate outside the school setting. The concept is often called digital equity. However, when officials do not address the capacity, there is a vital threat to the participants’ civic, cultural, employment, lifelong learning, and access to essential …

A Mixed-Methods Study Examining The Difference Between Closed Captioning And Lexile Levels, Jim Pruitt

Dissertations

This experimental mixed-methods study explores what happens to student Lexile scores when they use closed captioning. Since the emergence of closed captioning tools in the 1980s, closed captioning has become more mainstream and easier to access today than at any other time in history (Rickelman et al., 1991). Thus, it is through harnessing this technology and bringing it into the classroom setting that the researcher of this study hopes to provide new approaches for educators that want to improve their student Lexile levels, while also incorporating the SAMR model within our increasingly technologically-focused classrooms (Crompton & Burke, 2018).

The quantitative …

Faculty Descriptions Of Teaching Strategies For Professionalism In Nursing Students, Diane L. Smith Levine

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore how nursing faculty described strategies for teaching professionalism, across the curriculum, to pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students at one college in the Midwest. It was not known how nursing faculty described developed strategies. This study was supported by two core theoretical foundations: Miller's Wheel of Professionalism in Nursing model (Miller, 1988) and Benner's Novice to Expert Nurse concept (Benner, 2001). Research study questions included: RQ1: How do pre-licensure nursing faculty, in one program in the Midwestern United States describe teaching professionalism to BSN students across the …

Mississippi School Accountability, Instructional Leadership, And Data Use; A Formula For Success, Teresa Duke

Dissertations

The following quantitative research study was conducted to determine if differences exist between “A-rated” and “F-rated” districts in Mississippi when it comes to how data are used for preparation of student academic achievement, how that data is used to influence instruction, and what beliefs school leaders have concerning the development of a data-based decision-making culture. Mississippi was chosen based on its unique accountability model.

The survey method was used for this study. Over 100 school leaders from across the state participated from 12 different school districts. Their responses provided some indication of the differences that exist between “A” and “F” …