Digital Commons Network^™

The Perception Of The Implementation Of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy To Support Black Male Students In Mathematics – A Case Study, Chiquita Granville

Dissertations

Culturally Relevant Pedagogy is a method of education that promotes an inclusive and empowered learning environment by acknowledging and valuing students varied cultural origins. CRP is especially important for tackling the ongoing achievement discrepancies encountered by high school Black Male students in the context of mathematics instruction. This abstract emphasizes the value of culturally sensitive instruction in enhancing black male students' mathematics learning results and experiences.

This research will examine the difficulties faced by Black male students in Mathematics classes, including prejudice, a lack of cultural representation in the curriculum, and a lack of relevance between the subject matter and …

Development And Preliminary Validation Of The Internalized Heterosexist Racism Measure For Sexual Minorities Of Color, Juan Pantoja-Patino

Dissertations

Research on intersectional internalized oppression among sexual minorities of color is scant. One of the reasons as to why such oppression is understudied amongst such population is the lack of psychological measures. At the same time, sexual minorities of color are faced with the negative impact of living in a racist and heterosexist society. Therefore, this study is one of first to develop and preliminarily validate the Internalized Heterosexist Racism Measure (IHRM) that evaluates internalized heterosexist racism in sexual minorities of color. By applying an intersectionality framework, the IHRM was generated from an extensive literature review and then reviewed by …

Evaluation Of A Clincally-Integrated Community Health Worker Program To Support Adults With Cardiovascular Conditions: Guided By The Prism Framework, Cynthia Orofo

Dissertations

Chronically ill individuals with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have been extensively challenged by the complexities of disease management. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S. Although clinically integrated community health worker (cCHW) support interventions have been increasingly implemented to help manage CVDs, a comprehensive analysis of interventions implemented in real-world settings is lacking. The purpose of this study was to observe and evaluate a cCHW support intervention in a real clinical setting serving adults with CVD using an implementation science perspective, guided by the PRISM Framework.

Enzymological Revisionism: Employing Transient State Approaches To Define The Catalytic Sequences Of Poorly Understood Systems, Madison M. Smith

Dissertations

Flavin is a molecule composed of a tricyclic isoalloxazine ring linked to a ribityl. Flavins are utilized as a cofactor by many enzymes to facilitate a myriad of chemistries. Flavoproteins were first discovered in the late 1800 s and have since been an interest to researchers, largely due to the unique spectrophotometric characteristics that make it a valuable reporter molecule. Flavin cofactors (typically either flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) or flavin mononucleotide (FMN)) are chemically versatile as the isoalloxazine ring can form one and two-electron reduced states. The reduced states are prone to react with molecular oxygen and numerous observations have …

Exploring The Relationship Between Partner Boundary Flexibility Congruence And Well-Being Outcomes While Work From Home During Covid: The Mediation Of Dyadic Empathy, Huaying Li

Dissertations

This study integrates person-environment fit theory and boundary theory to examine the influence of congruence in work and family boundary management on the well-being of couples working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Focusing on the differences in work and family boundary management preferences between spouses, the study assesses the effects on dyadic empathy (empathic concern and perspective-taking), marital satisfaction, and job performance. Utilizing latent congruence modeling with survey data from 222 US employees, the study reveals that congruence (difference) in family flexibility between couples negatively impacts empathic concerns and perspective-taking. Conversely, actual transitions between work and family positively influence …

The Undocu-Competence Of College And University Websites: A Lonestar State Analysis, Karina Castro-Pavon

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to analyze the websites of Texas public four-year, private four-year, and two-year institutions of higher education (IHEs) to determine the extent to which website content corresponds with the recommendations of undocumented scholars and supporters. The study aimed to investigate whether the website content differs based on various institutional-level characteristics and to identify any relationships between contextual-level factors that may affect the information presented on websites. The study answered the following research questions: (1) To what extent does the information presented on Texas IHEs' institutional websites align with the Institutional Undocu-Competence (IUC) framework? (2) Does …

Factors Impacting The Empirical Identification Of The Bifactor Irt Model Of Rating Data, Wenya Chen

Dissertations

Response data corresponding to educational and psychological instruments may represent different dimensional structures to account for different patterns of the dependencies in the data. One of the dimensional structures that has been increasingly discussed in the literature is the bifactor structure. This structure can effectively separate different sources that influence the responses, which contributes to score validity and provides theoretical insights about the measured trait. Unfortunately, estimating this structure in practice comes with challenges. One such challenge is an empirical identification issue that is seldom discussed in the literature. This issue occurs when an item’s discriminations on the general and …

Savoring And Bereavement; Exploring Whether Savoring Can Be Used As An Interventional Tool For Grieving Older Adults, Ajla Basic

Dissertations

Relational savoring is the idea that savoring can be achieved through focusing on a critical relationship with another person and then extracting the positivity from that relationship (Borelli, et al., 2020). Relational savoring differs from regular savoring because in the former, it is the savoring of memories within a relationship that has attachment, and where the memories themselves have attachment-based content (i.e., protection, support, love) (Borelli, et al., 2020). This proposed study would seek to answer the question of whether relational savoring can act as a protective barrier against psychological distresses a bereaved person may experience by priming and enhancing …

Perspectives Of College Students With Disabilities Regarding Their High School Transition Experience: Notes For High School Transition Planning, Lindsay Hartzler, Kitty Dong, Andrew Johnson Kliethermes, Kaitlyn Sandheinrich, Mark Wheatley

Dissertations

Students with disabilities face many challenges as they transition to postsecondary education. These students are often unprepared for the rigor of postsecondary academics; they often lack self-efficacy skills and have limited awareness of postsecondary supports or cannot successfully access them. This study aims to give voice to college students with disabilities to inform practices of high school personnel involved with transition and higher education professionals supporting them. Using Kohler’s Transition Taxonomy 2.0 (2016), researchers sought to study the perspectives of eleven college students on their high school transition experiences in the areas of academic preparedness, self-advocacy skills, and experiences with …

Diagnosing Silent Forgiveness At The Dialogical Limit In Endō Shūsaku’S Novel Silence, Catherine Buescher

Dissertations

I situate this dissertation within the context of the rightly noted deficiencies of dialogue and dialogical hermeneutics, deficiencies that prevent dialogue from effectively addressing the pathological nature of many of today's social issues, e.g., white supremacy, sexual and gender inequality, and climate change. Using the lens and limits of Western dialogical hermeneutics as noted by David Tracy, I conduct a case study of the dialogues of the main characters - Rodrigues, Ferreira, Kichijiro, God—in Endō Shūsaku’s novel Silence, noting the silence active in each of the dialogues at the end of the novel. I then argue that the nature and …

“If They Can Help, They Will”: A Community Cultural Wealth Approach On Parent Support And Its Influence On The College Success Of First-Generation Latinas, Fabiola Rosiles

Dissertations

This study explores the parental support first-generation Latinas have received, and recognizes the skills, knowledge, and various forms of support that Latinx parents can and have provided their daughters when they seek a college education. Through a community cultural wealth framework, this study adds to the current literature on Latina and first-generation college students and specifically challenges the deficit approach that is often used when studying these student and parent populations. Furthermore, this study aids in better understanding the experiences of first-generation Latinas who receive parental support in ways that are outside of the traditional in-school presence and support. Through …

Daring Dames And Dirty Deeds: Chicago Burlesque, Drag, And Censorship Politics, 1850-1980, Lucas Andrew Bensley

Dissertations

"Daring Dames and Dirty Deeds" is a history of burlesque, drag and censorship politics in Chicago from 1850 to 1980. In this period, burlesque and drag entertainers and shows adapted to changes in the tastes and sensibilities of the public. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, burlesque was primarily a form of parody of "higher culture" entertainment featuring circus performers, comedians, and female dancers in elaborate costume. In Chicago, burlesque gradually changed to become an art form that pushed the boundaries of how women could perform on stage while challenging laws and cultural norms of decency and chastity. …

Implementation Of Tai Chi Fall Prevention Program In A Community-Based Setting, Shabnampreet Kaur

Dissertations

The increasing rate of falls among older adults is a health concern that may lead to injuries and reduced quality of life. At the project site there was no systematic process to impact fall rates, 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 regarding the Tai Chi fall prevention program would impact the rate of falls among adults 65 years and older. The project was piloted over 12 weeks in a community-based setting in urban New York. Imogene King's goal attainment theory and Kurt …

Jewish Laws For Gentiles: Purity In The Pseudo-Clementine Homilies, Joshua T. King

Dissertations

This dissertation is an analysis of the concept of purity in the Pseudo-Clementine Homilies. The argument proceeds in two parts. In the first, I argue that the Homilies’ presentation of purity reflects an ancient Jewish background. Thus, the Homilies, like other ancient Jews, divides its concept of purity in two domains: a domain related to the body (bodily purity) and a domain related to ethics (purity of the heart). I then track the differences between these two kinds of purity, noting particularly how they are defiled and how such defilements are removed. Thus, while bodily defilement comes from occasional bodily …

Liberating Bioethics Through Agape: A Feminist Perspective From The Periphery, Kimberly Vargas Barreto

Dissertations

Despite the vast number of cultures and peoples that reside in the West, ethical action in bioethics is determined through the perspective of la Totalidad, which does not include the Other or individuals from the periphery. In my dissertation, I argue that the universalization of U.S. clinical bioethics (la bioética estadounidense) and the coloniality of knowledge that extends from it are, at its core, imperialistic in nature and result in the exclusion of patients with intersectional identities. While clinical bioethics was first conceived as a critical tool for medicine, the acceptance of principlism as the central theory in the field …

Exploring External Engagement In Higher Education Through Defining Partnerships, Colleen Reaney

Dissertations

This research study has been designed to be an evergreen project to help higher education institutions define their external partnerships. The action research model has been used to create and test a model of external engagement, which was later redefined as the Reaney Model of External Engagement with the intent for continuous improvement. Further modification of this research study will need to be tested to strengthen the Reaney Model of External Engagement core while considering external factors that create challenges within the higher education space. Challenges that may arise to help higher education institutions clearly define external partnerships may include, …

Gender Diversity In U.S. Adolescents: An Exploration Of Multidimensional Survey Measures Of Gender And Their Associations With Health And Social Outcomes Using A National Sample Of Adolescent-Parent Dyads, Christopher Hansen

Dissertations

The measurement of gender is an evolving area of survey research. Extant research has assessed different approaches for measuring gender identity and expression among adults; however, comparatively less research has evaluated their use among adolescents who are developing their gender identity and expression. This dissertation uses data from a nationally representative survey of U.S. teens and their parents to evaluate multidimensional measures of gender in adolescents. Three research questions represent separate empirical chapters of the dissertation. The first research question examines the measurement of femininity and masculinity in adolescents based on a comparison of different survey scales. The second research …

Reconceiving Virtue: A Mengzian Adaptation Of Eudaimonic Virtue Ethics In Response To Contemporary Criticisms, Gina Elizabeth Lebkuecher

Dissertations

The primary question my dissertation aims to answer is: how might eudaimonic virtue ethics be reimagined to respond to contemporary criticisms from disability scholars, feminists, and empirical psychology? To answer this, I introduce the Eudaimonic View of Virtue, or EV, and propose a Mengzian adaptation of the EV (EV-M) in response to these criticisms. The EV captures the four core claims to which eudaimonic virtue ethical theories are committed: (i) virtues, in the sense of excellent character traits or dispositions, are the foundation of ethics or ethical action (i.e., aretaicism); (ii) virtue is at least partially constitutive of human well-being/flourishing …

The Impact Of Risk And Trust On Confrontations Of Sexism: The Role Of Goals, Emily H. Budde

Dissertations

Sexism is still persistent in the United States (Swim et al., 2001), especially in the workplace (Fitzgerald, 1993; Loy & Stewart, 1984), leading to many negative outcomes for women. Unfortunately, there is an assumption in America that targets of bias will confront the perpetrator in the moment. However, this is often not the case leading to a disconnect in society at the cost of the target (Gutek & O’Connor, 1995). Looking at targets’ decision-making process and the factors that influence it can provide more context for why targets respond the way they do. I tested whether behaviors following bias (i.e., …

The Role Of Affect In Regulating The Influence Of Belief Superiority On Open-Minded Cognition And Information Selection Bias, Whinda Yustisia

Dissertations

Previous studies show that people high in belief superiority tend to hold higher attitude confidence and certainty, increasing information selection bias. However, it remained unclear why and when such an effect occurred. Two studies were conducted to address these questions. Study 1 aimed to examine the effect of belief superiority on information selection bias and its potential mediator: situation-specific open-minded cognition (SOMC). In line with the logic of earned dogmatism hypothesis, I posit that belief superiority induces a sense of entitlement to be close-minded, consequently leading to information selection bias. In study 2, I examined the role of affect (happy/sad) …

Christotechtonics: Dildonic Prostheticity In Theological Formulation, Evan Taylor Marsolek

Dissertations

This dissertation asserts the following claim: Christ is a dildo. This project brings Paul B. Preciado into conversations with contemporary philosophies of religion and interrogates a hegemonic Christian theological political matrix. This project articulates a hermeneutic of christotechtonics, which studies appearance, formation, and utilization of Christ. This project is twofold. It begins with a transdisciplinary exploration that entangles queer and trans theories, religious studies, secular studies, and philosophy of religion to position reading queer and trans theories as forms of counter political theologies. The work then transitions into dildonic prostheticity in theological formulation. The 2019 Vatican document “Male and Female …

Understanding Political Rigidity: Exploring The Epistemic Underpinnings Of Political Ideology, Chad Mitchel Osteen

Dissertations

The ideology as motivated social cognition model conceptualizes conservatism in terms of two unique constructs: political conservatism and psychological conservatism. The former pertains to a predisposition to specific ideological beliefs (e.g., resistance to change), while the latter pertains to the psychological traits that are associated with particular ideologies (e.g., negativity bias). Experimental research demonstrates the mechanistic relationship of epistemic motivations and emergent political behavior. Much of the evidence lies in explicitly ideological outcomes. The current proposal seeks to test the fundamental assumption in this body of work. This is the assumption that increased epistemic motivation should lead to a preference …

Synthetic Assembly Of Antibacterial Agents And Metal Chelating Ligands, Zachary Joseph Liveris

Dissertations

The exploitation of chemical synthesis exemplifies the notion of bridging both innovation and curiosity for the strategic assembly of sophisticated molecular infrastructures. By exerting this continuously evolving and versatile tool, synthesis has been applied in the development and influence of a myriad of ligands, biological probes, and persists to direct pharmaceutical innovation and modern medicine alike. Since pathogenic multidrug-resistant (MDR) microbial strains remain to be a persistent threat to both clinical healthcare and society, the need to develop selective and efficacious antibacterial agents that can impede microbe pathogenicity and regulate cellular mortality is paramount. In contrast to pharmaceutical development, organic …

Factors Influencing Purpose In Life In Middle-Aged And Older Adults, Kelly Bergstrom

Dissertations

Purpose in life is an important dimension of psychological well-being with associated health benefits. The current study used a path analysis model to examine how perceived cognitive control, health locus of control- self, engagement in physical activity, and engagement in challenging cognitive activities relate to purpose in life longitudinally. Multimorbidity status was also examined as a potential moderator of paths in the model. Participants were middle-aged and older adults who participated in the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) longitudinal national study (n = 2,481). After controlling for relevant covariates, engagement in physical activity, engagement in challenging cognitive activities, …

High Risk Medication Regimens And Medication Related Predictors Of Hospital Readmission In Elderly Home Care Patients, Mary T. Dierich

Dissertations

Adverse drug events are a primary cause of hospitalization in the elderly. Nearly 70% of the $177.4 billion dollars spent on drug related morbidity and mortality in the U.S. is due to hospitalizations. Polypharmacy, inappropriate medications or medication regimen complexity have all been implicated as precursors to adverse drug events and as indicators of high risk medication regimens. Understanding the relationship between medication regimens and readmission is important when evaluating potential errors in administration, risk-benefit ratios, and readmission risk. However, due to definitional and measurement issues, the high risk medication regimen remains an elusive concept. This study characterizes medication regimens, …

Humanizing History: Empowering Educators To Navigate Difficult History Through Museum-Led Professional Development, Andrea Miskewicz

Dissertations

As museums increasingly serve as educational hubs, this research examines how teachers' participation in such programs contributes to their perceived efficacy for teaching topics of difficult history. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study utilizes a survey with quantitative and qualitative measures to evaluate changes in teacher self-efficacy before and after a museum-led intervention. With a pre and posttest design, this study provides deeper insights into participants' experiences and challenges. Preliminary findings suggest museum-led professional development has a significant positive impact on teachers’ perceived self-efficacy, highlighting the resources and opportunities museums have available and the importance of humanizing history in social …

Using Evidenced-Based Practice To Increase Knowledge And Awareness Of Sexually Transmitted Infections, Amanda M. Brickey

Dissertations

The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project is to increase the knowledge and intent to change practice through education on the importance in assessing sexual health history in patients at a federally qualified health center (FQHC) in Western Washington State by providing continuing education to primary care providers.

Settler Colonial Determinants Of Indigenous Health: Relationship Between Indigenous Women's Level Of Allostatic Load And High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy; A Secondary Analysis Of The Strong Heart Study, Nicole A. Thomas

Dissertations

There is a dearth of comprehensive literature relevant to the relationship between settler colonialism and health outcomes of Indigenous peoples residing in the United States (U.S.). Critical analysis of settler colonial determinants of Indigenous health will help to further shape discourse, research priorities, and policy relevant to Indigenous population health and disease distribution. This thesis will bring awareness to settler colonialism, propose relationships between settler colonialism and health outcomes, and identify specific settler colonial determinants of Indigenous health to help guide development and use of nursing theory. This dissertation argues that the structure of settler colonialism threatens and implicates the …

Neonatal Intensive Care Nurses' Perceptions Of Nurse Leader Behaviors And Their Impact On The Workplace Environment, Meggan R. Mcculley

Dissertations

Nursing leadership is a crucial component in today's healthcare organizations as nurses make up the largest profession in healthcare overall. Nurse leaders have the ability to affect the environment of the nurses' workplace in both positive and negative ways, thus impacting their Quality of Nurse Work Life (QNWL). QNWL is an indicator of nurse satisfaction within their workplace, and the ability of the nurse to make meaningful contributions to their home units and the organization. The purpose of this qualitative, interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study was to describe what it meant to experience nursing leadership from the perspective of Level …

Remote Vibration Based Monitoring Of Bridge Scour, Alan Kazemian

Dissertations

The gradual erosion of the sediment around a bridge foundation is called Scour. This erosion is caused by water flow and increases during times of high-water flow such as flooding. The scour leaves the bridges structurally unsound over time and jeopardizes the safety of the structure. Approximately 60 percent of bridge failures in the United States are caused by scour. A variety of types of devices have been used to detect scour. Most of these devices only observe the scour and not the structural integrity of the bridge. The typical approach has relied on visual inspections of the bridges after …