Digital Commons Network^™

Nursing Faculty As Self-Care Influencers: Current Nursing Students’ Perspectives, Shane Yardley

Dissertations

The future of health care depends on nurses who can provide expert patient care and are equally prepared to care for themselves. This balance allows nurses to effectively model caring for themselves to their patients while also enabling them to withstand the inevitable rigors of the profession. As role models, nursing faculty exhibit behaviors that influence students or role aspirants' ability and motivation to successfully perform self-care. For nursing faculty to be intentional in their influence in this area, they must understand what students interpret as helpful and detrimental in facilitating their self-care. The purpose of this study was to …

Rethinking Jazz Education In The Digital Age, Matthew Ryan York

Dissertations

Many resources for jazz educators and students are readily available online for free. With consistent video content and online platform growth across the globe, jazz educators are called upon to engage within this digital discourse. Additionally, they must find new ways of adopting these resources and administer them within their curriculum. How can educators effectively utilize online video resources within their curriculum without altering the existing course offerings to match those of their music education degree counterparts? Almost ten years ago research showed that “streaming from Netflix and YouTube accounted for 50 percent of all North America fixed network data” …

White Counseling Psychology Doctoral Trainees’ Experiences Broaching Whiteness With White Clients: An Interpretative Phenomenological Study, Zari Koelbel Carpenter

Dissertations

This research builds upon scholarship of critical theorists and critical whiteness studies. The “invisibility” of whiteness has been increasingly acknowledged and attended to in counseling psychology. Further, prominent scholars have continuously urged the field of counseling psychology to acknowledge race as a psychological characteristic of white people (Helms, 2017; Helms & Carter, 1990a). Attention to whiteness is needed, as the majority of the counseling workforce, including doctoral students (55%), identifies as white (American Psychological Association, 2020). As racial identity development can advance the personal and professional development of white counseling psychologists and benefit clients, increased attention is merited for the …

Methods And Metacognition: Teaching An Historically And Culturally Responsive Holocaust Unit, Katie Sluiter

Dissertations

While at least forty-seven states have legislation around teaching the Holocaust and/or genocide to secondary students (grades 6-12), this curriculum is typically housed in the social studies departments of most districts; however, there are many English language arts teachers who either choose to teach Holocaust literature alongside their social studies counterparts, or create stand-alone Holocaust units around both informational texts and literature.

This study centers around the author’s own Holocaust unit taught to eighth-grade honors ELA students in an urban, Title I school district. The unit is used as an artifact to examine two aspects of a successful unit on …

The Lived Experiences Of Transition-Age Youth With Usher Syndrome Preparing For Postsecondary Education: A Retrospective Study, Tara Mae Brown-Ogilvie

Dissertations

Youth with Usher syndrome (USH) can experience unique challenges in postsecondary preparation. Currently, there is a paucity of research addressing the postsecondary preparation experiences of youth with USH. The purpose of this study was to learn from college students with USH about their lived experiences of preparing for postsecondary education; specifically, exploring K-12 educational supports, transition planning, and support systems that helped youth with USH prepare for postsecondary education. Due to the unique nature of this microcosm of deafblindness, qualitative and phenomenological methods were best suited for this study to garner first-hand accounts of those who have experienced this phenomenon …

Implicit Bias Toward Students With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder And The Influential Role Of Teacher Self-Efficacy, Laurie Claire Landrieu

Dissertations

The current study observed the presence of implicit bias toward students with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the classroom and the influential role of teacher self-efficacy. Teachers report a lack of readiness to work with students with diverse learning needs. Students with alternative learning needs, such as those with ADHD, report less social competency with adults and peers, and lower self-concept. The purpose of the study is to provide further information about the implicit biases held toward students with ADHD within the classroom and the influential role of teacher self-efficacy. Forty general education teachers were recruited. A paired samples t-test was …

Performance Of Shared Parameter Missing Data Models For Intensive Longitudinal Data, Justin Harding

Dissertations

Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) studies, also known as Intensive Longitudinal Data (ILD), involve participants that are intensively measured over time. Intermittent missing data tends to occur due to participants not responding when prompted. The high volume of assessments and intermittent nature of missingness have made some traditional longitudinal missing data methods unsuited to handle the missingness of EMA data. Two recent missing models intended for ecological momentary assessment missing data situations have emerged that jointly model the outcome and missingness, providing information about the latent trait of responding to prompts. Both models implement a shared parameter as a random effect …

Voices Of Change: Exploring The Narratives Of Physical Education Stakeholders’ Policy Work In Colorado, Lisa Paulson

Dissertations

Quality physical education, pivotal for the development of physical, social, and emotional skills for an active and healthy lifestyle (Society of Health and Physical Educators [SHAPE] America, 2014; United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization [UNESCO], 2021), has been globally marginalized, necessitating a heightened focus on policy advocacy engagement (Hardman, 2013; van der Mars, 2021). Policies touch nearly all aspects of physical education (UNESCO, 2014), and a significant barrier is the ‘policy illiteracy’ that contributes to the field’s neglect (van der Mars et al., 2021). Many educators receive little to no policy education, often not identifying as policy actors (Lorusso …

Undergraduate Nurse Educators’ Conceptualization And Utilization Of Deliberate Practice In Psychomotor Skills Education, Sarah Bundren Tappendorf

Dissertations

Nurses are responsible for providing safe patient care. When nurses lack skill competence, patient harm can occur. Therefore, providing skill competency education in pre-licensure nursing programs is key to providing safe patient care. Deliberate practice (DP) has been shown to be an effective teaching strategy for psychomotor skills acquisition and retention. Deliberate practice is the repetitive focused practice of skills facilitated by expert feedback with the goal to obtain mastery. The purpose of this descriptive, cross-sectional, quantitative study was to determine the proportion of undergraduate nurse educators who knew or did not know about DP, what undergraduate nurse educators who …

A Grounded Theory Exploration Of Learning To Read In The Montessori Early Childhood Classroom: Using Teacher Knowledge And Experience To Build A Model Of Reading Development And To Examine How Montessori Pedagogy Supports Reading Motivation, Sharra Weasler

Dissertations

Learning to read is one of the most important components of education and literacy skills in early childhood have a significant impact on later reading success. There is an abundance of quantitative research focused on reading, known as the science of reading. However, gaps and flaws have been identified in the research, indicating that an alternative approach is needed to supplement the current body of knowledge. The Montessori Method includes a comprehensive and effective approach for learning to read. Yet, no systematic research has been conducted to explore reading in this context. The purpose of this study was to explore …

Examining Novice Teacher’S Perspectives On Mentoring Programs And Their Influence On Attrition, Lakeisha Ector

Dissertations

This qualitative study examines the perspectives of novice teachers on mentoring programs and their influence on attrition. Mentoring programs present opportunities for skilled educators to teach, sponsor, encourage and advise novices, improving their personal and professional development. The research determines whether mentoring and induction programs strengthen teacher efficacy and their influence on attrition rates. The study is rooted in constructivism, which seeks to develop an understanding and knowledge of individuals through their experiences and reflection. The research employs an inductive and deductive approach, facilitating pattern and theme identification. The study involves nine participants – novice teachers – from Martin-Ellison County …

Republican Klansmen: The Ku Klux Klan And The Grand Old Party In Prohibition Era Indiana, Andrew Scott Barbero

Dissertations

Since the proliferation of Trumpism in American politics there has been newfound interest in Ku Klux Klan related studies. Scholars have turned to the rise of the “Invisible Empire” in the 1920s, and the massive political influence it yielded nationwide, to better understand and contextualize the MAGA Movement of Republicans currently dominating their own party, and American politics more broadly. This dissertation focuses on the rise of the Ku Klux Klan as a dominant force in Indiana politics throughout the 1920s. Indiana boasted one of the largest Klan groups at the time, and it was seen in popular culture as …

'Crowned With The Wreath Of Immortality': Martyrdom, Death, And The Afterlife In North African Religious Discourse, Matthew William Egbert

Dissertations

This dissertation explores North Africa’s role in the development of its own religious discourse, specifically with regard to martyrdom, death, the afterlife, and other eschatological themes. Historians of early Christianity and Islam often depict the region as peripheral, but it was actually a crossroads where pre-existing traditions met new ideas to develop unique, localized versions of these religions. More often than not, these emphasized a pursuit of martyrdom and veneration of saints. This longue-durée study covers a vast timeline, spanning the pre-Christian period to the late Fatimid Caliphate. Its central focus, however, is the Donatist schism that divided North Africa …

Essays On The Effects Of Resource Wealth And Us Influence On Employment, Education And Export Structure, Lyndrison Garthfield Lincoln

Dissertations

Although several studies have sought to identify the determinants of export diversity and sophistication, few have examined the role of historical events in shaping or reshaping them. In my first chapter I use data on CIA interventions during the Cold War period. I show that such interventions had a negative impact on the range of goods exported by affected countries. I provide evidence that this effect persisted in the long run. In my second chapter, I study the local impact of trade union strength on employment during resource booms. I use unionization and coverage rates along with the presence of …

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 …

Caring For A Family Member With Dementia: Collectivism And Individualism As Predictors Of Caregiver Burden, Christina Wawrowski

Dissertations

Caregiver burden, often associated with physical, emotional, and financial strain, is a significant concern for family members who are providing care to their loved ones. This study involved exploring the experiences of serving as a caregiver to a family member with dementia to better understand the relationship of collectivistic and individualistic orientations with perceived caregiver burden, while considering the level of social support and dementia severity. The research involved a quantitative approach, administering the Individualism and Collectivism Scale (Cultural Orientation Scale), the Caregiver Burden Inventory, the Functional Rating Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and a demographic survey …

Understanding The Barriers And Contributions To Success Among African American Graduate Students Pursuing Doctorate Degrees In Clinical Or Counseling Psychology: A Comparative Analysis Of Predominantly White Institutions And Historically Black Colleges And Universities In The U.S., Chelle' Thomas

Dissertations

This study investigated the barriers encountered by African American students in earning doctorate degrees in clinical or counseling psychology at Predominately White Institutions (PWIs) compared to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This study aims to elucidate the challenges encountered by African American graduate students in their pursuit of doctoral degrees in clinical or counseling psychology. The study focused on analyzing the obstacles and positive impacts experienced by African American graduate students as they strive to obtain doctorates in clinical or counseling psychology. Multiple challenges and contributions have been identified in this a phenomenological qualitative study. The qualitative results indicate …

Exploring Psychology Graduate Students’ Desire And Ability To Discuss Their Personal Trauma History With Clinical Supervisors, Madeleine Lane

Dissertations

Inspired by the archetype of the “wounded healer,” described by Carl Jung as a psychologist who enters the field with psychological wounds of their own, and the prevalence of such wounded healers in the mental health field today, this study aimed to explore clinical psychology doctoral students’ experiences of self-disclosure of their personal trauma history, a specific type of psychological wound, in clinical supervision. The goal was to explore whether and how students’ trauma history is discussed in clinical supervision; the importance of such discussions for students’ professional and personal development; and the impact of having or not having …

The Association Between Social Media, Toxic Masculinity, And Depression In Young Adult Males, Anthony Warren

Dissertations

The world is shaped by diverse influences that significantly affect individuals’ internal landscapes, leading to both positive and negative effects with profound implications for society. Role models play a pivotal role in shaping the aspirations of young adult males by providing direct and indirect lessons that leave lasting impressions and influence their worldview. In recent years, social media use, toxic masculinity, and mental health have garnered significant attention in understanding the experiences of young adult males. The focus in this study was to examine the relationships between social media use, toxic masculinity, and depression in young adult males ranging in …

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 …

Evaluating The Treatment Utility Of Universal Screening For Social-Emotional And Behavioral Risk, Rebecca Wagner Lovelace

Dissertations

Universal screening is a proactive method used by schools to identify social-emotional and behavioral (SEB) difficulties experienced by students to inform necessary intervention supports and practices. Early detection of SEB problems in young children is imperative to effective treatment, but there is currently little guidance and research to support effective use of universal screening data, particularly for SEB risk, to inform treatment. The current study followed up on studies that examine the use of universal screening to inform intervention decision making (e.g., treatment utility) for SEB risk. An alternating treatment design was used to assess treatment effectiveness of matched and …

Medical Imaging Dataset Management Leveraging Deep Learning Frameworks In Breast Cancer Screening, Inchan Hwang

Dissertations

In the domain of Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CADx) for breast cancer diagnosis through mammography, prevailing models have traditionally been trained and validated using old film-based mammography. However, contemporary U.S. hospital practices involve the utilization of Full Field Digital Mammography (FFDM), offering more detailed images captured at various angles than old film-scanned mammography. Despite this shift, the existing body of research predominantly focuses on old-film based datasets, the implications of FFDM for CADx systems have not been understood. This dissertation addresses the issues emerged from FFDM such as data augmentation between old film-based set and new FFDM whether they are more effective …

Respiratory Treatments In Post-Covid Patients To Improve Physical Activity, Pamela Tarver

Dissertations

A significant number of individuals affected by the coronavirus (COVID) developed severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), causing respiratory dysfunction which led to decreased functional capacity. This project aimed to evaluate the project site's archival data for post-COVID patients to determine whether respiratory treatments improved physical activity, as evidenced by the results of the pre and post 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and oxygen saturation (SpO2) levels. The Donabedian quality model was utilized to evaluate the resources, the interventions, and the outcomes of post-COVID patients.

Implementing A Tai Chi Exercise Program To Prevent Falls In Long-Term Care, Angela F. Miles

Dissertations

Falls can be a frequent occurrence in older adults residing in long-term care facilities. At the project site there was no systematic process to impact falls, so an evidence-based solution was sought. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine if the translation of Li et al.'s research utilizing Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance (TJQMBB) exercise in conjunction with the current fall risk assessment would impact fall rates among older adults over a 12-week period in an urban Georgia long term care facility. Betty Neuman's systems theory and Kurt Lewin's change model provided the scientific underpinnings …

Emailed Prompt Package To Increase Alternative School Educators’ Use Of Behavior Specific Praise, Chelsea Johnson

Dissertations

Alternative school educators are often placed in alternative education settings with minimal training or support to manage disruptive behaviors in the classroom. To combat this, school-based consultation may be provided to assist alternative school educators with classroom management strategies. However, face-to-face consultation may be limited due to the numerous responsibilities placed on school-based consultants. Behavior specific praise (BSP) is a strategy that is recommended, but often provided at low rates. To address these barriers, previous literature has examined the use of emailed prompts to increase treatment integrity, feasibility, and acceptability of a variety of evidence-based interventions. A concurrent multiple baseline …

A Comparison Of Instructor Audio-Video With Text-Based Feedback Versus Text-Based Feedback Alone On Students' Perceptions Of Community Of Inquiry Among Rn-To-Bsn Online Students, Marie K. Lindley

Dissertations

In order to meet the healthcare needs of the US population, Registered Nurses (RNs), with Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees, are needed. This descriptive posttest study, with independent samples, examined the use of audio-video with text-based feedback versus text-based only feedback on student's perceptions of the community of inquiry (COI) among RN-BSN online students (n=125), enrolled in one course at one university. The COI survey performed reliably with Cronbach's alpha .94 on the pretest and .98 on the posttest. No statistically significant difference was found between the groups on the pretest for teaching presence (p=.31), …

Perspectives Of An Automotive Technician And Automotive Technician Educator: An Autoethnography, Christopher E. Reynolds Sr.

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore automotive technician and automotive technician educator’s obstacles and expectations they faced during their educational and occupational endeavors. Constructivism and social constructivism were used as theoretical frameworks. Autoethnography was the selected qualitative research method. Using an interpretive process, several convergent topics were identified: education encouraging professional interests, professional obstacles, challenging normalcies, training and educating automotive technicians, the drive for professional certification, bridging the gap between industry and education, experience, patience, and exposure.

Several methods are recommended to help future automotive technicians and automotive technician educators overcome obstacles they might face, which include the …

An Analysis Of Teachers’ Viewpoints From Public, Private, And Charter Schools On Effective Lesson Planning And Instruction, Samone Smith

Dissertations

This dissertation explores the perspectives of elementary school educators in St. Louis, Missouri, regarding impactful lesson planning and instruction across public, charter, and private school settings. Drawing on existing literature and empirical data, the study seeks to unveil the approaches and perceptions teachers hold towards lesson planning, shedding light on essential characteristics for effective teaching. The introductory chapter sets the stage by presenting the significance and purpose of the study, framing research questions, and outlining the methodology. The following chapters explore the theories, review the literature, and analyze collected data to help us understand lesson planning practices in modern education. …

Depression Screenings In Older Adult Primary Care Patients: A Pilot Study, Karissa A. Rodriguez

Dissertations

Depression is a profound problem among people of all ages, but it is especially prevalent in older adults aged 65 and older. Identification and diagnosis of depression are obtained through screenings.

This project aimed to increase the frequency of depression screenings at all primary care office visits and analyze the agreement between the depression screening tools, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) or the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), when assessing depression in older adult primary care patients ages 65 and older. Theoretical Framework: The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle is a problem-solving model used to create change and adapt to a project's needs. …

The Development And Testing Of An Instrument To Measure Perceptions Of Body Art Among Nurse Educators And Nursing Students, Deana M. Nunes

Dissertations

Increasing diversity in the nursing workforce is a national priority to better care for a diverse patient population and minimize healthcare disparities. Nurse educators teach students to practice with compassion and respect, recognizing the dignity, worth, individual choice, and unique attributes of all patients. Perceptions of nursing professionalism are heavily influenced by appearance. Many nursing programs restrict visible body art in their dress code policies based on long-held notions and negative stereotypes of individuals with body art. Shouldn't nursing students who choose to have body art receive the same respect and lack of judgment? A better understanding of nurse educators' …