Digital Commons Network^™

Documenting The Journey Towards Becoming An Anti-Racist White Educator, Heather Mccord

Dissertations

As a White teacher in public education, I have had the great pleasure of educating students from all over the globe. My career began in a district that served predominantly White students from middle class families. The only Black students I interacted with were those bused in from the city while participating in the desegregation program. There were noticeable biases and beliefs teachers held toward those students. However, since I was early on in my career with little experience, I was unaware of damage being done to these students. Once I began working for an extremely diverse district, in a …

Religious Leadership: Agents Of Social Change, Jacqueline Carter

Dissertations

Historically, churches in the United States acquired respect as institutions that cultivated spiritual maturity and advocated for social equality in Black communities. Religious leaders represent the voice of reason for communities facing complex social problems, then and today. How educational attainment influences religious leaders’ social action strategies and decisions to engage or disengage in social activism is under explored. Additionally, it is unclear what strategies religious leaders use for social advocacy in their communities. Using andragogy and social cognitive theory as theoretical frameworks, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the educational experiences of religious leaders to understand …

Registered Nurses' Perceptions Of Obesity, Elizabeth Pettifor

Dissertations

Obesity has become an epidemic in the United States (U.S.) population. Obesity is a risk factor for many health problems that ultimately lead to death or disability. Nurses in the U.S have a higher-than-average rate of overweight and obesity. The purpose of this exploratory, qualitative case study was to identify and recommend areas for change in the hospital environment to assist bedside nurses in the U.S to have a healthier lifestyle. Social media was used to conduct a purposeful sampling technique and recruit 10 registered nurses working full time at the bedside in the U.S who struggle with obesity. Semi …

Vocational Education: Cna Students’ Perspectives Of Soft Skills In Training And The Workplace, Kimberly S. Mcclendon-Payton

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this quantitative study was to identify CNAs’ perceptions about the most important soft skills used by CNAs in training and the workplace.

Methodology: This quantitative research study identified CNAs’ perceptions of the most important soft skills they used based on the composite model for soft skills. CNAs were selected based on purposeful sampling. Likert scores were collected from the survey responses.

Findings: Examination of the quantitative data from the 35 CNAs revealed that brainstorming is the most important collaboration soft skill in CNA training and the workplace.

Conclusions: Results based on the findings of this study …

The Mother's Lived Experience Of Breastfeeding In The First 4 Weeks Postpartum: A Heideggerian Hermeneutic Phenomenological Analysis, Stacy Rosales

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to more fully understand, in their own words, the experiences of mothers who began breastfeeding their infant after birth and may or may not have been breasting at four weeks postpartum. A single research question guided this study: What are the lived experiences of breastfeeding mothers during the first four weeks postpartum? Eight mothers who delivered in the past four to six weeks were interviewed. Data were analyzed using a Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenological approach. This method was chosen because it allowed the researcher to conduct interviews and explore the lived experience of breastfeeding mothers …

The Effect Of Pre-Procedural Opioid Video Education On Pediatric Patients Undergoing Orthopedic Surgery, Amy Pham

Dissertations

Problem The opioid epidemic is a continuing public health threat, growing amongst the pediatric population. Contributing to the issue are their accessibility within the community, and lack of education on safe storage and disposal of opioids.

Methods For this quality improvement (QI) project, a descriptive observational study design was used to identify the opioid storage and disposal habits of patients and their caregivers at home. The participant and caregiver dyads were shown a brief opioid educational video pre-operatively and were followed up with via emailed survey two weeks post-operatively. The survey contained questions pertaining to disposal and storage habits of …

Post-Cesarean Section Pain Management Using Pre-Built Computerized Order Entry Sets, Ashleigh Hunkins

Dissertations

Abstract

Problem

Electronic medical records (EMR) have helped decrease common medication errors. However, prescribing errors are still elevated. Creating pre-built order sets can decrease medication errors for post-cesarean section women.

Methods

This project used an evidence-based practice approach to create new order sets. Women undergoing a cesarean section between January 15, 2021 and April 14, 2021 received the new order sets. A retrospective data review was conducted pre and post-implementation between the dates of October 15, 2021 and April 14, 2021 to view medication errors.

Results

Before implementation of the order sets, there were 239 cesarean deliveries and eight errors …

Identification Of Veterans Experiencing Symptoms Of Mental Illness For The First Time After Covid-19 Diagnosis, Brittania Phillips

Dissertations

There has been a general increase in psychiatric symptoms since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Literature that has been published since the start of the pandemic has indicated there is an increased risk of depression, insomnia, altered mental status, new-onset psychosis, neurocognitive syndrome, and anxiety. The military veteran population is at higher risk for psychiatric illness than the general population, and should be screened accordingly. This quality improvement project was developed in collaboration with the mental health clinic at urban medical center in the Midwest to identify new symptoms of mental illness after COVID-19 diagnosis utilizing the PDSA model and descriptive …

Proactive Text Messaging For Public Health Surveillance During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Daria Kester

Dissertations

Problem

The Department of Public Health (DPH) of a suburban Midwestern county considers surveillance and control of COVID-19 to be sub-optimal, resulting in part from difficulties with completing case and contact interviews.

Methods

To increase the success rate of case investigation, proactive messaging using short message media (SMS) alerts is used in a quality improvement initiative based on the PDSA framework. Participants are sent text message alerts prior to receiving a call from a DPH case investigator. Results are recorded in a statewide database.

Results

Individuals who received text messages prior to receiving a case investigation interview phone call were …

The Effects Of Race, Ethnicity, Education, Marital Status, And Family Size On Hysterectomy Rates, Zula Price

Dissertations

Decreasing disparities in hysterectomy rates have been a goal of the United States Department of Health and Human Services as a method of improving women's health. In the United States, hysterectomy rates remain high, particularly among Black women in contrast to other racial and ethnic groups (Qi et al., 2013). This study, using a descriptive research framework, utilized a sample of 1,921 women across the United States who participated in the 2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Data were analyzed from the responses of subjects who reported having a hysterectomy in the 2012 NHANES, which is designed to …

What You Speak Shall Come: Examining Spirituality On Retention Of African American Males Attending A Predominantly White Institution Using A Sequential Explanatory Mixed-Methods Design, Carlous Brian Yates

Dissertations

African American males have faced significant challenges at institutions of higher education over the years (Harper, 2013; Griffith et al., 2019). This study aimed to examine the impact of spirituality on the retention of African American males attending a Predominantly White Institution (PWI) through a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design study.

The participants in the study were African American males (N = 47) with age range 18 to 48 years old all attending a mid-sized university located in the mid-western region of the United States during the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters. The university is considered a Predominantly White Institution …

Development Of A Scale To Measure School Psychologists' Self-Efficacy For Working With Gifted Populations, Brittany Marie Dodds

Dissertations

School psychologists are specialists in educational assessment, consultation, youth mental health, and social-emotional-behavioral development. As a result of their training, school psychologists are positioned to serve students with exceptionalities, including gifted students. However, research indicates that school psychologists' familiarity with gifted issues is lacking and that information regarding school psychologists' self-efficacy for working with this population is nonexistent. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to create a tool to assess school psychologists' self- efficacy for working with gifted populations. The Dodds Inventory of Gifted Self- Efficacy for School Psychologists (DIGS-SP) was developed and administered to 229 practicing school …

The Effect Of Pedagogical Agent Persona On Performance, Self-Efficacy, And Attitudes In Adult Learners In An Online Environment, Justin L. Mathews

Dissertations

Pedagogical agents, virtual avatars that are often included in online training or educational modules, have been studied in a variety of disciplines to determine the extent to which their inclusion in online or multimedia learning environments may influence both cognitive and affective outcomes in learners. The present study examined the effect of a peer-like pedagogical agent providing motivational messaging in an online English language learning environment to determine if the agent will positively affect college students’ performance, self-efficacy, and attitude in comparison to a control group. All participants studied an online, self-paced English grammar module, either with (treatment version) or …

Examining The Psychological Effects Of Adolescent Bullying In Adults, Douglas Caro

Dissertations

Being an adolescent victimized by bullying is not only widespread but all too common in a society that deems it a “normal” rite of passage. However, bullying in schools has received increased attention since school shootings have inundated the media and news headlines the last several years. Some have correlated bullying to the shooters being bullied themselves. Being a victim of bullying has been linked to serious medical and mental health problems, not just in adolescents but across the lifespan. It is common for victims to experience physical problems such as abdominal pain and other gastrointestinal concerns. Mental health problems …

Postpartum Depression In South Asian American Mothers: An Examination Of Screening Tools And Associated Cultural Factors In Assessment, Heer Panchal

Dissertations

Postpartum depression is a disorder impacting an overwhelming number of women after childbirth with symptoms of depression, anxiety, guilt, and hopelessness. Due to limited research and understanding of postpartum depression in the growing South Asian population in the United States, it is vital to gather data and research on this population to increase understanding of patterns and experiences that occur within the South Asian American population and to incorporate cultural factors into the screening process. The current research’s objectives include discussing the facets of postpartum depression, current tools used to screen for postpartum depression, and helpful interventions to create a …

Grounded Roots Applied To Women Presidents In The California Community Colleges System, Penny Shreve

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this explanatory mixed methods study was to identify and describe what exemplary female presidents in California community colleges do to stay grounded and maintain physical, emotional, intellectual, social, vocational, and spiritual health.

Methodology: This mixed methods study identified and described the perceptions of 16 women presidents in the California Community Colleges system regarding strategies they use to remain grounded in their current positions. Respondents were purposively chosen based on specific criteria. Data were gathered through the Stay Grounded survey from 16 participants and interviews with 5 of the participants. Quantitative data were tabulated to determine mean …

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 …

A Mixed Method Study Investigating A Gap In Ethical Knowledge Training, Supports, And/Or Practices For Current Elementary Administrators, Kristie J. Lehde

Dissertations

Ethical decision making impacts every school leader; 100% of interview participants in this study recognized that they made ethical decisions at least daily. This study was designed to identify if there was a gap in ethical knowledge, trainings, supports and practices and then investigated the knowledge, trainings, supports and practices that were in place to support currently practicing elementary leaders. The researcher sent surveys to elementary principals in the state of Missouri and shared the survey via social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. The researcher also asked survey participants to participate in a one-on-one interview to gather more …

Exploring Critical Media Literacy Skills Of Adults On Twitter During The Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic In The United States In The Spring And Summer Of 2020, Renee Thomas Woods

Dissertations

This study explores the self-directed learning behaviors of adult users of the social media vehicle, Twitter, through the lens of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States during the spring and summer of 2020. The objective was to identify Twitter usage patterns to determine adults’ awareness and use of media literacy and critical media literacy skills with social media content they consume. This study, informed by two focus groups and six individual interviews, is based on a qualitative research design using a constructivist approach. The central question is how do adults use critical media literacy on social media when gathering information …

What Factors Support Degree Completion For African American Women Students At A Land-Grant Historically Black College University (Hbcu)?, Samantha Friar

Dissertations

There is minimal research conducted on African American women degree completion who attend a land-grant HBCU. This study investigated key factors that assisted 9 African American women and promoted their degree attainment. My research utilized the ethnography framework to observe a specific culture group, language, behaviors beliefs, and beliefs. The findings in this research identified 5 factors: culture environment, academic advising, student engagement, financial aid, and faculty mentoring. It was determined that cultural environment is a leading factor among the African American participants of this research, as connecting with peers that shared the same cultural beliefs as the participants do, …

Uncovering Roots Of Systemic Oppression Within Law Enforcement: A Qualitative Study Exploring Why Police Officers Discriminate Against The Black Community, Alexandra Bouziotis

Dissertations

“Uncovering roots of systemic oppression within law enforcement: A qualitative study exploring why police officers discriminate against the Black community.” Rationale for this study is to uncover behavior and psychological reasons to uncover why police discriminate and oppress the Black community with little consequences for their actions. The dominant explanation for this trend uncovers previous research addressing oppression and the structure of institutions such as law enforcement that have relied heavily on past policies and tactics protecting an institution in the United States that has rarely been challenged. Recent riots and civil unrest against law enforcement institutions and dominant laws …

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 Making Of The Man’S Man: Stardom And The Cultural Politics Of Neoliberalism In Hindutva India, Soumik Pal

Dissertations

In this dissertation, I trace the contours of state control and capital in India, starting from the 1970s and see how the state’s increasingly centralizing tendencies and authoritarianism, in the service of capital, creates cultures of violence, fatalism, desperation, and ultimately, even more desire for authoritarianism. I study male stardom in Bombay cinema, beginning withAmitabh Bachchan (who was the reigning star in the 1970s and 80s), and following up with Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan (who have been successful stars from the early 90s), to understand how changing subjectivities, responding to changing socio-economic reality, were formulated and expressed through …

Flaxseed’S Paradoxical Role In Extending Lifespan And Reproductive Capacity In White Leghorn Laying Hens; And The Effect Of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (Pufas) On Lipid Metabolism, Mitochondrial Bioenergetics And E-Cadherin Expression In Laying Hen Ovarian Tumors, William Christopher Weston

Dissertations

We are the first lab to report the occurrence of a diet-induced transsulfuration (TS) blockade associating with elevated S-adenosylmethionine (i.e. SAM) synthesis, enhanced lifespan and enhanced reproductive capacity, in a vertebrate animal model. In this paradoxical study, we used LC-MS/MS-derived metabolomics data to report the effects of flaxseed (Linum Usitatissimum) on one-carbon metabolism in White Leghorn laying hens (Gallus gallus). Flaxseed contains a vitamin B6-antagonizing molecule called ‘linatine’ that is particularly effective at reducing vitamin B6 levels in small rodents and poultry. Linatine reduces TS flux through its inhibition of the vitamin B6-dependent enzymes cystathionine beta synthase (CBS) and cystathionine …

Faith News In The Digital Age: New Muslim And Non-Muslim Residents Seeking Islamic Information In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Urwa Tariq

Dissertations

When non-Muslims become immersed in an Islamic way of life—a common occurrence in the UAE, a Muslim country where the overwhelming majority of the resident population is foreign-born—some become interested in learning more about the Islamic faith. This interest is also evident among new converts to Islam from other countries when they reside in the UAE. Little is known about how information about Islam is disseminated to non-Muslims and new Muslims in the UAE, how these expatriates search for the religious information they desire, and the challenges they encounter in their enquiries. This study applies the theory of the diffusion …

Insights Into The Packaging Of Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus (Mmtv) Genomic Rna By Identifying Pr77ᴳᴬᴳ Binding Sites Involved During Its Selective Encapsidation, Akhil Chameettachal

Dissertations

Selective encapsidation and/or packaging of retroviral genomic RNA (gRNA) by Gag during retrovirus assembly is a crucial step for generating infectious virus particles. Despite having been studied extensively, the mechanism by which the retroviral Gag precursor selects and packages the retroviral genome remains largely unclear. Therefore, to understand the molecular mechanism(s) of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) gRNA packaging, as a first step, expression of full-length recombinant Pr77^Gag -His6-tag fusion protein in bacteria was done. The recombinant Gag protein was then purified from the soluble fractions of bacterial cultures using immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) and size exclusion chromatography …

Social Media, Bullying, And Preadolescent Eating Disorders: Psychoeducation And Prevention Model, Agnes Zalesna

Dissertations

The purpose of this theoretical project was to examine the available research surrounding preadolescent eating disorders with particular focus on prevalence and risk factors. The author proposed that social media and bullying should be considered as specific risk factors for this demographic in light of the increased media device use among children. Next, the author examined cognitive functioning, child development, and learning theories as they relate to the influence of social media an bullying on the development of eating disorders in children as well as current research on protective factors, prevention, programs, and treatment recommendations. Finally, the author proposed a …

The Effects Of Military Leadership And Its Implication On Mental Health Stigma And Treatment Seeking Behaviors Of Veterans In Garrison And Noncombat Deployment Environments, Alexis May Charrys

Dissertations

Military service members are more likely to endure a significant amount of stress and experience multiple traumatic events than civilians due to the nature of their job. Many studies have focused on the traumatic stressors encountered during combat despite the fact that many service members encounter stressors related to serving in the military. A study conducted by Dursa, Reinhard, Barth, and Schniderman (2014) found that 10.9% of nondeployed veterans screened positive for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with the highest prevalence of PTSD (13.8%) amongst nondeployed soldiers. Military mental health stigma is rampant due to the need to be ready for …

Respecting The Spectrum: Creating A Gender Inclusive Structured Diagnostic Intake Interview, Natalia Andino-Rivera

Dissertations

Transgender and nonbinary (TNB) people, more than ever, are in need of and actively seeking out services in order to cope with the reality of being transgender in the United States. This includes requiring assistance from local and federal governmental systems that do not provide protections for equal housing, workplace discrimination, and healthcare provisions, much less hate crime investigation and prosecution. In 2011, 75% of transgender people were or had been in therapy in the past, with a further 14% intending to participate in therapy in the future. Recently, the newly elected President Joseph Biden issued an executive order (EO) …