Digital Commons Network^™

Sales Professional Preservation: Examining The Impact Of Incongruent Ideological Belief Systems On Intentions To Quit Among Sales Professionals, Brian Lee Morgan

Dissertations

Organizations that lead with ideologies of moral tradition, politics, and social economics are playing a losing game. The ideological belief system congruence within the organization between leaders and members creates a better atmosphere with less turnover and better recruitment. Sales professionals want an environment free of ideological incongruence. Without ideological alignment, they will defect from the organization. Leaders are miscalculating the negative impact on members’ intentions to quit when they are faced with leaders acting upon ideology changes that affect the member-customer ecosystem. In addition, leaders should be aware of the personal attributes that can exacerbate turnover and work to …

Development And Structural Origin Of Stretchable Semiconducting Polymers And Composites, Yunfei Wang

Dissertations

Stretchable semiconductors are pivotal in advancing wearable and implantable electronics, with those boasting both high stretchability and self-healing capabilities being especially significant for a myriad of wearable applications. In this dissertation, we developed an extremely soft, highly stretchable, and self-healing elastomer based on H-bonding crosslinked amide-functionalized polyisobutylene (PIB-amide). When blended with a high-performance conjugated diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP-T) polymer, the composite exhibits unprecedented stretchability, exceptionally low elastic modulus, and an innate ability to self-heal at room temperature.

The morphology of conjugated polymer/elastomer semiconducting composites have significant impacts on electrical and mechanical properties Further investigations focused on manipulating the phase separation size in …

The Pedagogical Impact Of Injury Through The Experiences Of Three Professional Trombonists, Caleb Owenby

Dissertations

As the stigma surrounding performance-related injuries in the brass community is slowly lifting, more musicians are openly seeking assistance for injuries, more musicians are willing to share their experiences with injury, and the musical community is becoming more knowledgeable in the realm of musician health. This research is aimed at preventing future dysfunctions in brass players, offering avenues of recovery for musicians currently experiencing an injury, and examining the current state of trombone pedagogy through the experiences of three performing trombonists.

Megumi Kanda, Colin Williams, and David Vining are professional trombonists and educators who have experienced an embouchure dysfunction or …

Elucidation Of Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Tumor Necrosis Factor (Tnf) Release From Mast Cells, Tolulope Eunice Ayo

Dissertations

Mast cells are one of the major producers of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), and mast cell-derived TNF (MC-TNF) is associated with pathological conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases, and allergic asthma. However, the molecular machinery underlying TNF release from mast cells has been unclear, despite the conserved nature of exocytosis. To delineate the exocytic machinery required for TNF release from mast cells, we systematically dissected the exocytic fusion machinery (e.g., Munc13, Munc18, and VAMP families) expressed in mast cells, using a combination of CRISPR-dependent knockout, RNA interference, confocal microscopy, lentiviral rescue experiments, and cell-based assays. Out of the …

Development And Evaluation Of An Instrument For Exploring Achievement Emotions Of General Chemistry Students: General Chemistry Achievement Emotions Questionnaire, Alexander Graves

Dissertations

General Chemistry, a course that is required for many STEM degree programs, is often perceived as a difficult and stress-inducing course by students. One aspect of a student’s course experiences that can be measured are achievement emotions. Emotions that students can experience that can affect and are affected by academic performance are called achievement emotions. Achievement emotions, such as anxiety, have been extensively studied in recent years in relation to student performance and retention in different courses. Instruments that have been developed to measure achievement emotions in broad academic settings. However, achievement emotions have been determined to be domain-specific, meaning …

Effects Of School-Based Physical Activity On Children’S Core Executive Function Abilities, Jessie Katelyn Johnston

Dissertations

Children in the United States are becoming increasingly sedentary, linked to detrimental effects on both physical and mental health. Introducing physical activity interventions in schools offers a promising approach to address this trend, while also enhancing children’s executive functioning abilities. Executive functioning abilities are crucial for social-emotional development and academic success. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore whether a 6-week physical activity intervention at moderate intensity was associated with increases in executive functioning among girls who are enrolled in third through fifth grade. It was hypothesized that executive functioning abilities (working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility) would …

Combating The Racial Discipline Gap: Does Diversity Training Mitigate Implicit Bias In The Discipline Decision- Making Process?, Bailey R. Reshel

Dissertations

The racial discipline gap between Black and White students has been pervasive for decades. To date, limited research has been conducted on the possible role that principals’ implicit racial biases may play in this gap. As such, the purpose of this study was to explore how high school principal’s implicit racial biases may influence the severity of consequences given to Black students during subjective discipline situations. A non-experimental quantitative approach was used to explore the possible impact of high school principals’ pro-White implicit racial biases during subjective disciplinary decisions with Black students. It additionally examined whether the number of hours …

Collegiate Esports Participation And Its Perceived Effects On Student Experience: A Phenomenological Study Of Collegiate Esports Teams, David Shimokawa

Dissertations

In an increasingly competitive higher education marketplace, institutions are seeking innovative strategies to grow or maintain their existing student populations. As student interests shift over time, institutions must stay informed of the rise and decline of various sporting activities and the impact those activities have on the student body. As more institutions look to utilize esports as a tool for recruiting and retaining students, the purpose of this qualitative phenomenological research study was to create new knowledge on the phenomenon of collegiate esports participation and its perceived effects on student experience. This study had 11 participants who were active undergraduate …

Faculty Attitudes Toward The Preparation Of Baccalaureate Nursing Students For Practice In Hospital And Non-Hospital Settings, Lisa Radley

Dissertations

The ongoing nursing shortage worsened in recent years following the COVID-19 pandemic, has resulted in increasing concerns about future deficits in the nursing workforce. Many nurses are approaching retirement age at a time when the overall demand for healthcare services is expected to increase. Changes in nursing education have been recommended to ensure that the next generation of nurses are willing and prepared to meet the needs of an ageing population. Nursing faculty will have important roles in the education and mentoring of students to prepare them to care for diverse populations in a variety of practice settings. Understanding faculty …

Review Of Transition Programs For Autistic Students From Pre-K To Elementary School And Elementary School To Middle School In A Midwest Suburban School District, John J. Harrington Iii

Dissertations

This study is in place to identify what needs to be outlined within an IEP transition plan, so that students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can experience success during their educational careers. The study will review results based on teacher-provided surveys to identify how high-quality transition plans impact the student’s educational success when transitioning from early childhood education to elementary and elementary to middle school. The transition process plan is designed to provide the needed student information from one educational entity to another. The goal is to reduce the amount of time to get the student what the student needs …

A Design Thinking Mixed Method Study On Social-Emotional Learning Lessons For Early Elementary Learners, Emily Woodall

Dissertations

Social emotional learning (SEL) had largely been absent from early elementary curriculum, despite research which indicated the need for specialized SEL curricula for unique groups, especially students identified as gifted and talented, exceptional students living in geographically isolated areas, and unidentified gifted students from historically disadvantaged minority groups, including African American, Latinx, and Native American. The researcher proposed an SEL pilot in early elementary grades, including pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, may create a scaffolded approach to SEL curricula throughout the students’ educational experiences with a focus on scaffolding to specific subgroups, such as gifted and talented students with unique SEL needs. …

Speech-Language Pathologists’ Perceptions When Supporting Students With Dyslexia, Heather Campbell-Meyer Tellier

Dissertations

This study explored the rationale and significance of integrating speech-language pathologists (SLPs) into the assessment and remediation of dyslexia, traditionally the domain of general and special education teachers. Drawing on their unique qualifications in languagerelated areas, such as phonology, syntax, and semantics, SLPs have emerged as valuable assets in supporting students with dyslexia. American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) has recognized the value of SLPs working with students with dyslexia and has set specific guidelines for working with them. Despite these guidelines, recent data have indicated a gap between policy and practice, with only a fraction of SLPs (36%) actively …

New Electrochemical Platforms For The Detection Of Neurodegenerative Disease Biomarkers, Omair Adil

Dissertations

Neurodegenerative disease (ND) is a collection of progressive disorders which is marked by gradual degeneration of the central nervous system (CNS). The damage of brain and nervous system causes diminishing of brain and nerve cell which lead to body dysfunction, organ failure, paralysis and ultimately death of a patient. Neurodegenerative diseases affect millions of people worldwide. United States of America is among highest ND prevailing disease countries. Yet the number of cases is underreported because of the complexity of disease diagnosis. With the increase in aging population the rate of ND cases is also increasing. Another important concern is that …

Investigating Nature-Based Mindfulness In Nurse Anesthesia Students: A Pilot Study, Douglas Lovern

Dissertations

Across the country, the mental health crisis continues to rage. Varying degrees of depression, stress, and anxiety are commonly found in college-age students. The COVID-19 pandemic augmented this crisis, but the pandemic is not the sole culprit for the escalation of mental health disorders in the United States. Students across the globe suffer mental health disorders that include depression, anxiety, and stress. Research has shown that graduate students are six times more likely to develop anxiety and depression than the general population. Student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs) are vulnerable to mental health disorders. SRNAs enter labor-intensive doctoral programs fraught with …

The Effects Of The Living Compass Group On Lpc Associates' Wellness And Self-Care, Jennifer Yarbrough

Dissertations

Counselors can only be effective if they engage in a healthy level of self-care. Counselors recognize the importance of self-care, but they often ignore the early warning signs when it is lacking (e.g., emotional shifts, changes in well-being, or altered behaviors). Self-care has been studied for many years and is emphasized in the ACA Code of Ethics 2014. However, counselors still need to work on establishing a self-care practice, especially considering that 50% of licensed professional counselor associates (LPC associates) do not make it through the licensure process. Researchers found that novice counselors experience a higher level of burnout. In …

A Constructivist Grounded Theory Exploration Of Intergenerational Trauma Among Lgbtq+ Bipoc Individuals, Satveer Kler

Dissertations

Many scholars have argued that existing conceptualizations of trauma such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th Ed.; DSM-5) conceptualization are inapplicable for individuals of marginalized communities. Individuals of marginalized communities may experience historical trauma, racial trauma, identity-related trauma, or collective trauma. Moreover, the effects of these forms of trauma may persist throughout different generations via biological transmission (e.g., epigenetics) or via interpersonal transmission (e.g., emotion socialization, cultural socialization, attachment, communication styles, behavioral socialization). The generational effects of these forms of trauma are referred to as intergenerational trauma. There has been a paucity of empirical explorations of …

Individual Differences In Perceptions Of Organizational Career Culture: A Fit Theory Perspective, Diogo Alberto Seixas

Dissertations

Attracting and retaining talent has been one of the most critical elements for business success. As organizations have different cultures within themselves, the organizational career culture communicates the organizational beliefs and practices valued for career success through organizational signals about career priorities. Using a scenario-based study, we explore individual preferences regarding four career cultures built on two dimensions of career signals: assimilation versus differentiation and intrinsic versus extrinsic rewards. We choose group beliefs, desirability of control, competitiveness, and protean career orientation as important traits because they clearly relate to the career signals and fit nicely in the organization’s career cultures. …

Perspectives Of Academic Nurse Leaders Regarding Mentorship Of Novice Nurse Faculty, Suzanne Campbell

Dissertations

This qualitative descriptive study sought to describe the perspectives of academic nurse leaders (ANLs) in direction of mentorship for novice nurse faculty. By examining the experiences and perspectives of these individuals, vital knowledge gained from this study will benefit future academic nurse leaders, faculty, students, and stakeholders in easing the difficult transition novice nurse faculty face as they enter academia. These perspectives had not previously been studied in depth. Fourteen participants were interviewed who served as deans, directors, or department heads of nursing education programs in Bachelor of Science in Nursing or Associate Degree in Nursing programs at U.S. public …

A Comparative Descriptive Study Exploring Undergraduate Versus Graduate Self-Regulated Learning In Online Nursing Courses, Monica Panaitisor

Dissertations

Preparation of new graduate nurses is more important now than ever given the current state of health care. The pandemic has caused online nursing education to be a permanent content delivery modality across all degree programs. Best practices for e-learning only address course organization, instructional materials, learner interaction, course technology, and support while having no regard for the unique learner needs of different degree levels. Online learning success could be determined by how well students are able to self-regulate their learning; however, these behaviors have rarely been measured and compared in nursing students at different degree levels taking online nursing …

A Pedagogical Approach To Cello Studies Influenced By The Eshkol-Wachman Movement Notation, Romina Monsanto Colina

Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to create visual and spatial cues for cello students to better learn the instrument through a notation system developed by the author. The research and notation are based on Noa Eshkol and Abraham Wachman's movement notation, which notates general body movement. The new movement notation, developed by the author, is directed to specific movements for cello players. Learning to play the cello by ear has been a primary pedagogical method. Students and professionals struggle to learn new music and techniques because they rely on hearing more than kinesthesia, the sense of movement. Musicians spend …

“I’M Stressed—You Have To Do Something To Help Me:” The Relationship Between Student Academic Entitlement, Academic Stress, And Satisfaction, Rebbecca L. Nemec

Dissertations

Concern over academic entitlement has grown in higher education in the last two decades. Academic entitlement, defined as unfounded expectations of academic success, undeserved services and unrealistic accommodations (McLellan & Jackson, 2017), in nursing students is an under investigated phenomena. The purpose of this study was to examine the impacts of academic stress and general student satisfaction on academic entitlement beliefs in baccalaureate, junior, and senior level nursing students. In this correlational, cross-sectional study, the transactional theory of stress (Lazarus & Folkman, 1987), and Jeffreys’ (2022) nursing universal retention and success model were used to understand how academic stress and …

Exploring The Relationship Of The Noncognitive Variables Of Grit And Mindset In Baccalaureate Nursing Students And Their Impact On Academic Success, Alecia Hollis

Dissertations

The study aimed to evaluate how the noncognitive variables of grit and mindset could impact the academic success of baccalaureate nursing students. With the present and growing shortage of nurses, attrition within nursing programs is cause for concern. Attrition is a multifaceted problem; however, academic failure is one contributing factor. While cognitive factors, such as the standardized aptitude test (SAT), pre-nursing science GPA, pre-nursing GPA, and standardized entrance exams (Al-Alawi et al., 2020; Chisholm-Burns et al., 2021), have traditionally been used for admission criteria, increasing evidence suggests that noncognitive factors, like grit and mindset, play a crucial role in academic …

Peer Victimization In College Student Mental Health And Well-Being: Moderating Effects Of Perceived Social Support, Erica Van Overloop

Dissertations

Peer victimization is associated with several short- and long-term psychosocial consequences for both children and adults. Although there is evidence that peer victimization negatively impacts college students, the degree to which it may affect students’ mental health and well-being remains unclear. Most studies of peer victimization among college students focus only on retrospective accounts of childhood victimization, leaving many unknowns about how recent or ongoing victimization may impact students. The present study examined both retrospective and recent experiences of peer victimization in a college student sample (N = 366, 18-29 years old) while considering the moderating role of perceived …

Acculturation, Well-Being And Identity Of Oromo Immigrants, Hawi M. Wako

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between racial and ethnic identity, acculturative stress, and well-being for first generation Oromo immigrants. Studies regarding immigration, acculturative stress, identity, and well-being have primarily centered on Hispanics, Asians, and Caribbean individuals, but there has been a lack of attention toward Black African immigrants, including Oromo immigrants. The lack of inquiry into Black African immigrants, especially Oromo immigrants, creates a perception that all immigrants are the same, leading to a generic approach toward immigrant interventions and falls short of meeting the unique mental health needs of specific African communities.

Immigrants must …

Examining Ethnic-Racial Socialization As A Predictor Of Resilience And Ethnic-Racial Stress In Hispanic/Latine Young Adults, Adrian Josue Hernandez

Dissertations

Multiple scholars have emphasized the importance of elucidating how Hispanic/Latine individuals are socialized to navigate issues pertaining to ethnic-racial identity, such as ethnicracial stress from racism and discrimination (Ayón et al., 2020; Umaña-Taylor & Rivas-Drake, 2021). Ethnic-racial stress has been linked to numerous adverse physical and mental health outcomes among Hispanic/Latine people, including poor health-related quality of life and increased depressive symptoms (Alamilla et al., 2010; Andrade et al., 2021).

Attention to the role of ethnic-racial stress in exacerbating health disparities within Hispanic/Latine communities has also stimulated increased interest in understanding Hispanic/Latine resilience (Arce et al., 2020; Bosma et al., …

Counselor Education Doctoral Student Supervisors’ Preparedness To Address Indirect Trauma: Compassion Fatigue, Secondary Traumatic Stress, And Vicarious Trauma, Dynetta Clark

Dissertations

Hearing the painful stories of clients (indirect trauma) has been described as an occupational hazard for professionals working with trauma survivors and is becoming more common among mental health professionals. This might include counselors struggling with intrusive thoughts and having flashbacks of victimization, counselors viewing the world as an unsafe and unpredictable place, and/or counselors experiencing a loss of ability to empathize with clients. Clinical supervision is documented as an effective strategy to reduce the adverse effects of indirect trauma symptomology. A signature component of most counselor education and supervision doctoral programs is the training and preparation of students to …

Black Women’S Instagram Usage And Body Dissatisfaction, Shirlee Buchanan Moore Jr.

Dissertations

Within U.S. culture, girls and women of all ages are subject to experiencing body dissatisfaction. This dissatisfaction often results from direct comparison of one’s body to others, often via media depictions. Viewing these images prompts women of all cultures to engage in social comparison and learn to view themselves through an observer’s perspective. The advent of contemporary social media has increased the accessibility of images of others and, subsequently, social comparison of one’s body to others. Research has noted that women of all racial backgrounds utilize social media and experience varying degrees of satisfaction and dissatisfaction with their bodies. Despite …

Relationship Enhancement With New College Dating Couples: An Examination Of Self-Report And Observational Data, Kyra Katte

Dissertations

The present dissertation project investigated relationship enhancement following a brief self-disclosure task (i.e., the Fast Friends Procedure; FFP) via self-report and observational data. Thirty-three undergraduate couples dating for less than six months asked and answered questions that required increasingly higher levels of self-disclosure for 45 minutes. Interactions were recorded and coded for fondness/admiration, experiential avoidance, interdependence, reciprocity, and relationship satisfaction. Relationship outcomes were assessed pre-FFP, post- FFP, and at a six-month follow-up timepoint. Variables measured via observation demonstrated correlations with and predicted relationship outcomes, though most findings were nonsignificant. Nonsignificant findings may be attributed to the virtual administration of the …

A Comparison Of Training Approaches On Skill Acquisition Among Direct Care Staff At An Adult Day Program, Sandra Wagner

Dissertations

Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are often dependent on direct care staff to engage in daily activities, such as personal care, eating, and engaging in leisure activities. One way direct care staff can support adults with IDD to become more independent is by using prompting strategies. Often times, however, direct care staff have not been trained on how to use prompts to encourage independence. Current studies have demonstrated success in teaching direct care staff prompting strategies in personal care tasks (e.g., Engelman et al., 2002; Parsons et al., 1993) through behavioral skills training. Although the trainings produced an …

Derogatory, Racist, And Discriminatory Speech (Drds) In Video Gaming, Sean Woodford

Dissertations

Video games have been examined for their effects on cognition, learning, health, and physiological arousal, yet research on social dynamics within video gaming is limited. Studies have documented the presence of derogation, racism, and discrimination in this anonymous medium. However, gamers‟ firsthand experiences are typically examined qualitatively. Thus, this study aimed to establish a quantitative baseline for the frequency of derogatory, racist, and discriminatory speech (DRDS) in gaming. DRDS frequency, sexual harassment, and hate speech measures were administered to 150 individuals from online forums and social media groups. Descriptive and inferential analyses were used to gauge which factors affected DRDS …