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Examining The Effects Of Cell Phone Use On Caregiver Supervision And Child Injury Risk, Mckenna Corlis

Dissertations

Unintentional injuries are the leading killer of children in the United States. Research indicates caregiver supervision decreases child injury risk, but has not examined how different distractions may affect this relation. Specifically, research has not considered if and how caregiver cell phone use affects child injury risk. Given the prevalence and distracting effects of cell phones noted in previous studies, it is imperative to examine how caregiver cell phone use and child injury risk relate.

The present study examined how distractions influenced caregivers’ ability to tend to their child and their child’s engagement in risky behavior. Using a within-subjects design, …

Investigation Of Structural, Optical And Electronic Properties Of Modified Methylammonium Lead Iodide Perovskites, Rasanjali Jayathissa

Dissertations

Owing to their high-power conversion efficiency (PCE), easy processability, and low fabrication cost, organic lead halide perovskites (OLHP) are emerging as a most promising photovoltaic technology. However, toxicity of lead (Pb) is a major concern for further development. Therefore, it is essential to explore nontoxic metals to replace lead in these materials. In the current research work, nontoxic Mn²⁺, Na⁺ and Ba²⁺ are doped at 1, 5 and 10% mole concentrations to partially substitute Pb²⁺ in methyl ammonium lead iodide (CH₃NH₃PbI₃ or MAPbI₃) perovskite systems, and the effects …

Banking Supervisory And Regulatory Policy In Developing Countries: An Analysis Of Determinants And Impacts, Nanda Ayu Wijayanti

Dissertations

A decade after the Great Recession in 2007/2008, many developing countries are still struggling to devise appropriate policy actions that enhance banking supervision and regulation and help mitigate large-scale crises in the future. This uncertainty has also left lingering impacts on economic growth, especially in developing countries that have weak institutional mechanisms. This study examines how banking supervision and regulatory reforms are determined in the cross-national context of advanced and developing countries. Using time series, cross-sectional data on 180 countries over a period of 12 years (1999-2011), the purpose is to explore the roles of exposure of financial crisis, trade …

A Cumulative Summation Nonparametric Multiple Stream Process Control Chart Based On The Extended Median Test, Austin R. Brown

Dissertations

In statistical process control applications, situations may arise in which several presumably identical processes or “streams” are desired to be simultaneously monitored. Such a monitoring scenario is commonly referred to as a “Multiple Stream Process (MSP).” Charts which have been designed to monitor an MSP typically monitor the means of the streams through collecting samples from each stream and calculating some function of the sample means. The resulting statistic is then iteratively compared to control limits to determine if a single stream or subset of streams may have shifted away from a specified target value. Traditional MSP charting techniques rely …

Achieving Musical Peak Performance: The Impact Of An Online Self-Efficacy And Performance Anxiety Management Program Based On Maslow’S Hierarchy Of Needs, Melynie Joy Campbell

Dissertations

Every musician should be encouraged to strive for peak performance; however, many musicians do not know how to achieve it. Although there is a significant amount of research done on music cognition, music therapy, and musical behavior, the research that aims to expose the inner workings of the performer’s brain is still in its infancy. In the field of Sports Performance Psychology, there have been many performance-based studies designed to discuss this idea among athletes; however, to date, there has not been a correlation for how to attain peak performance results among musicians. To bridge the relationship between the theories …

Dispositions Of Junior Elementary Teacher Candidates, Amy Lynn Bartlow

Dissertations

Schools of teacher education strive to prepare teacher candidates with the most effective dispositions. Qualitative case study was used to gather data from university coursework, teacher candidate fieldwork, fieldwork observations, coursework observations and teacher candidate interviews. The varied data collection and yearlong data collection period allowed the researcher to gain a holistic and longitudinal view of teacher candidate dispositions. The researcher is a teacher educator who serves as an advisor, fieldwork supervisor, and instructor in the initial semester of professional coursework for participants. Particular attention was given to rigor and quality, participant protection, and credibility through specific procedures and processes. …

Perspectives And Knowledge Of Principals In Saudi Arabia Regarding Instructional Leadership In Special Education Programs In Their Schools, Yazeed Abdulaziz Alnasser

Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to examine the perspectives of Saudi Arabian principals regarding their instructional leadership behaviors regarding special education programs in their schools. The researcher developed the Instructional Leadership Behaviors in Special Education Programs Survey (ILBSEP) to measure principals’ instructional leadership behaviors in the delivery of special education programs. The ILBSEP was developed based upon Weber’s instructional leadership model and was refined through expert review and a pilot study. The sample for the study was comprised of 122 elementary and middle public school principals over the 2018-2019 academic year whose schools have inclusion programs, in three major …

“We’Re Going To Be Figuring It Out Forever”: Testimonios Of Brown Women And Their Experiences Self-Authoring Their Brownness In Graduate School, Reyna Monique Anaya

Dissertations

Race, a socially constructed idea designed to maintain the power and privilege of Whiteness and the colonial and economic exploitation of Black/Brown-identified people in the United States (Quiros & Araujo Dawson, 2013), has a direct impact on the ethnic identity development and self-authorship of Brown people (i.e., Latina/os, Chicana/os, Hispanics, etc.). This inquiry uncovers the testimonios of five Brown women participants and their continued ethnic identity and self-authorship development as first-generation students in graduate school. From a critical, cultural, constructivist lens and blend of testimonio (Reyes & Curry Rodriguez, 2012) and collage inquiry (Butler-Kisber, 2007), this research applied a borderlands/Mestiza …

The Effects Of Pitch Singing Training On Recognizing And Enunciating Chinese Tones, Danqing Zhou

Dissertations

It is a challenge for non-tonal language speakers to enunciate the four Chinese tones accurately. In the present study, I examined whether musical training benefits tonal language learning, evaluated whether the pitch singing training influence recognizing and enunciating the four Chinese tones, and compared the effects of a pitch singing training method with the traditional audio-lingual method. The participants, 60 American college students who had not taken a Chinese course and who did not speak and write Chinese, were recruited in this study. The participants were divided evenly and randomly into two groups: the pitch singing training group and the …

Effects Of Two Types Of Creatine Feeding And Doxorubicin On Skeletal Muscle Apoptotic Markers, Zoltan A. Torok

Dissertations

Doxorubicin (Dox) is a widely used anthracycline antibiotic used to treat a number of hematological and solid tumor cancers. Dosage however, is limited due to its toxic effects in healthy tissues. Negative consequences include myotoxicity in skeletal muscle, which may limit mobility and activities of daily living. Doxorubicin increases the formation of reactive oxygen species, which triggers apoptosis in the tumor and healthy tissue. Skeletal muscle undergoes apoptosis in response to Dox treatment, via the activation of the cleaved caspase-3 and its downstream target, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Creatine monohydrate (Cr), a naturally occurring chemical, when taken exogenously, can improve athletic performance. …

An Inquiry Into The Internationally Minded Curriculum, Matthew Justin Thompson

Dissertations

This qualitative curriculum study was an inquiry into the development, application, and assessment of a curriculum for international mindedness in an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme school. The participants included one teacher and 11 students. The influence of teacher beliefs, intentions, and actions regarding international mindedness; student perceptions of the curricular activities; and possible implications for international mindedness in U.S. schools in general were of particular interest to this study. I used Eisner’s (1994b) educational connoisseurship and criticism methodology and two additional frameworks: Eisner’s (1988) ecology of schooling and Uhrmacher, McConnell Moroye, and Flinders’ (2017) instructional arc to explore planning …

A Phenomenological Exploration Of Moral Injury Among Female Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans, Tricia Mercaldi Steeves

Dissertations

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological qualitative study was to investigate the construct of moral injury among a female Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veteran sample. Moral injury has been defined as the “lasting psychological, biological, spiritual, behavioral, and social impact of perpetrating, failing to prevent, or bearing witness to acts that transgress deeply-held moral beliefs and expectations” (Litz et al., 2009, p. 697). Moral injury also includes experiences of feeling betrayed by others (e.g., leaders and/or peers) while serving in high-stakes situations such as theater (Drescher et al., 2011; Litz, Leslie, Gray, & Nash, 2015; Shay, 1994). A …

The Flute Works Of Erwin Schulhoff, Sara Marie Schuhardt

Dissertations

While recent scholarship has begun to elucidate the life and compositions of Czech composer Erwin Schulhoff, whose life was cut short during the Holocaust, many of his works remain lesser known. The composer’s three works that feature flute (Concertino for Flute, Viola, and Double Bass; Sonata for Flute and Pianoforte; and Double Concerto for Flute and Piano) paint an intriguing picture of his late-1920s distinct and eclectic instrumental style. Recent in-depth theories of musical agency (which has long been a pervasive, albeit previously little-defined, perspective in music circles) by Hatten, Klorman, and Monahan supply an excellent lens through which to …

Experiences Of Secondary Social Studies Educators: The Redheaded Stepchildren Of Education, Rebecca N. Reed

Dissertations

The purpose of this multi-case phenomenological study is to understand the unique experiences of secondary social studies teachers. The number of participants was bound to six secondary social studies teachers from a public school district in a mid-Atlantic state and the experience of the researcher. Data was gathered through in-depth interviews using Seidman’s (2006) Three Step Interview Series and individual profiles were written. The phenomenological data analysis was guided by several methods including Hycner (1985), Moustakas (1994), and Seidman (2006). From the participants’ experiences several themes emerged: similarities in personal learning habits, a dislike for mandatory assessments and curriculum, and …

Providing Orientation And Mobility Support Via In-Person And Teleintervention Home Visits For Children With Visual Impairment In Early Intervention, Hong Bich Phangia Dewald

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to show that teleintervention can be used to provide early intervention (EI) services, specifically orientation and mobility (O&M) support services, to very young children and their families in the sensory impairment field of blindness and visual impairment (BVI). Teleintervention has been shown to be an effective method of providing EI services to very young children and their families in the sensory impairment field of deaf and hard of hearing (DHH). However, there are no previous empirical studies that address the use of teleintervention in providing any specialized instruction/services to young children with BVI and …

Social Justice And Inclusion As Competency: A Content Analysis Of Syllabi In Student Affairs Master’S Programs, Karla Iveliz Perez-Velez

Dissertations

This dissertation seeks to explore and discovers how the social justice and inclusion competency set forth by American College Personnel Association (ACPA) and National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) in 2015 is achieved in student affairs master’s programs. The idea of an individual being able to achieve competency in social justice and inclusion is problematized. A competency-based approach sets up social justice and inclusion as an attainable skill set instead of an ongoing and lifelong approach of challenge injustice with and for minoritized communities. The literature review provides an overview of the development of student affairs. The overview of …

Measuring Contextual Factors Associated With Experiential Avoidance Using A Behavior Analogue Paradigm, Meaghan M. Lewis

Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between levels of state and trait experiential avoidance across two different contexts using behavior analogue methodology. Performance on the cold pressor task (threshold, tolerance, endurance, and intensity; Zettle et al., 2012) was compared to performance on a modified version of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST; Kirschbaum et al., 1993) to obtain a behavioral measure of experiential avoidance that was standardized across these four behavioral indices. Data were collected from a convenience sample of undergraduate students (N = 133) from college classrooms on the campus of Western Michigan University. …

Comorbid Symptom Treatment In Parkinson’S Disease Using Neurofeedback, Joanne Mcfarland O'Rourke

Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to determine the impact of neurofeedback (NFB) on Parkinson’s symptoms that patients identify as priorities. First, a focus group of patients helped identify priority symptoms, then a pilot study tested protocols resulting from the focus group, and finally, an intervention study using a single subject design was conducted.

In the focus group, tremor and activity planning were identified as issues affecting every group member. The pilot study was conducted with three mid-stage Parkinson’s patients, who received a sensory motor (SM) protocol to address tremor, a SM plus cognition protocol (SM+Cog) for tremor and planning …

A Comparison Of The Effects Of Sustained Silent Reading And Reciprocal Reading On Reading Motivation For Middle School Students With Reading Delays, Margaret Uwayo

Dissertations

Research suggests that secondary students with reading delays may lack reading motivation, which can be defined as the temporal reinforcement value of texts for an individual. However, reading motivation may be a critical component of their acquisition of reading proficiency. The purpose of the current study was to compare the effects of two research-based reading interventions - sustained silent reading and modified reciprocal reading - on the reading motivation of middle school students with reading delays. Participants were four 6th-grade students who were grouped into dyads in a reading intervention classroom. The primary dependent variable was book engagement under pairing …

Predicting The Complexity Of Locality Patterns In Loop Nests In C Scientific Programs, Nasser M. Alsaedi

Dissertations

On modern computer systems, the performance of an application depends on its locality. Most existing locality measurements performed by compiler static analysis mainly target analyzing regular array references in loop nests. Measurements based on compiler static analysis have limited applicability when the loop bounds are unknown at compile time, when the control flow is dynamic, or when index arrays or pointer operations are used. In addition, compiler static analysis cannot adapt to input change.

Training-based locality analysis predicts the data reuse change across program inputs to provide run-time information. This analysis quantifies the number of unique memory locations accessed between …

Comparative Effects Of An Electronic Visual Activity Schedule On Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder In Increasing Independence In Activity Transitioning, Leisha Leann Tompkins

Dissertations

Young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often have difficulty transitioning from one activity to the next without verbal prompts from caregivers, but caregivers may not always be readily available. Binder-based visual schedules can be used to increase independence in transitioning but can be stigmatizing and cumbersome for the student. The purpose of the current study was to compare the effects of an iPadbased electronic visual to a traditional binder based visual activity schedule for elementary-aged children with ASD to increase independence activity completion and transition. Data were collected using a single-subject, alternating treatment design (A-B-CA- B-C) with three participants. …

Exploring The Needs Of Families Of Hospitalized Critically Ill Individuals In A Caribbean Setting, Amy Christine Burlar Schweizer

Dissertations

Critical illness can be a traumatic, stressful time for families of hospitalized critically ill patients. Understanding the characteristics and needs of families of critically ill patients can assist the health care team to provide quality care that is responsive to the unique characteristics of family members. Providing culturally congruent care can help to minimize the negative consequences of this time of crisis. The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to explore the needs of family members of hospitalized critically ill adults in a Caribbean setting. Leininger’s Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality provided the framework for this study. …

Effects Of Flipgrid For Training On Job Satisfaction In Adjunct Clinical Nursing Faculty In A Baccalaureate Nursing Program, Maria Quimba

Dissertations

Given the critical shortages of nurses in the United States and the corresponding shortfall of qualified faculty, the need to support adjunct faculty to meet the challenges of higher education is paramount. Comprising nearly half of the professoriate across institutions of higher education and nearly 50% of instructional time in associate and baccalaureate programs, adjunct clinical nursing faculty play a significant role in nursing education. Despite empirical research to support the need for training, development, and mentorship, ample evidence indicated lack of institutional support. Consequently, adjunct faculty experience numerous challenges accessing institutional services, struggle in their roles, and report job …

Understanding The Effects Of A Mindful Yoga Intervention On The Psychological Well-Being Of Student Veterans, María Del Mar Chavarría Soto

Dissertations

Transitioning from military culture to a civilian and student environment can become a challenge for many military members. Additionally, high levels of anxiety, depression, PTSD and elevated percentages of suicidal thoughts have been increasing for this population (Rudd, Goulding, & Bryan, 2011). These social concerns and mental health struggles for this population highlight the urgency in the provision of more resources and efforts to address their psychological well-being (PWB) and increase the chances of success in the college environment. The purpose of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the influence of a mindful yoga intervention on the …

Afterlife Beliefs, Attachment, And Continuing Bonds In Predicting Complicated Grief, Kiersten Michele Eberle Medina

Dissertations

This study examined the possible moderating effect afterlife beliefs and attachment have on the impact of continuing bonds on complicated grief. Although research has examined the relationship between attachment and complicated grief, and between afterlife beliefs and complicated grief, little is known about how these constructs interact with continuing bonds to affect complicated grief symptomatology. Research questions asked: (a) Does complicated grief symptomology (CGS) severity differ between individuals who hold afterlife beliefs versus those who do not? (b) Does the presence of internalized continuing bonds (ICB) expressions differ between individuals who hold afterlife beliefs versus those who do not? (c) …

The Use Of Principal Feedback From Teachers To Create Effective Leadership, Kevin Richard Macina

Dissertations

In the past decade, K-12 education has undergone many changes, often brought about by national and state policymakers putting a higher emphasis on student outcomes. There are enhanced accountability expectations for all levels of education that have added to the responsibilities of principals. Research can be found on many different areas regarding effective educational leadership. Studies abound to reinforce the need for principals to lead their schools through decisions and actions that are evidence based and data informed. In that body of work, there is a growing attention to the importance of staff, student, and even parent feedback as an …

The Utility Of Music-Based Interventions In Dementia Care, Adriana C. Doerr

Dissertations

While research has investigated the impact of music-based interventions on management of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), there is limited discussion of which music-based interventions are most effective for various levels of dementia severity, or of how to determine which music-based interventions are both accessible and feasible for caregivers and nursing staff. This review sought to identify the benefits of music-based interventions in dementia care within various domains of functioning and determine whether music-based interventions are effective for various levels of dementia severity. Peer-reviewed articles and studies that evaluated the effectiveness of various music interventions or demonstrated music's …

The Relationship Between Frequency Of Yoga And Meditation On Ptsd Symptoms In Individuals Who Have Experienced Intimate Partner Violence, Kimberly Polignani

Dissertations

Intimate partner violence (IPV) has become a growing phenomenon in the United States,

affecting nearly 13% of the population. The adverse mental health outcomes from people who experience IPV are prevalent and more than half have a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Therefore, therapeutic techniques for PTSD appear to be feasible for IPV survivors and their mental health issues. Complementary and alternative medicine has become a widely accepted approach for PTSD. Being two complementary and alternative medicine techniques, yoga and meditation are effective forms of therapy in many diagnoses, including PTSD. This study utilized a not-for-profit organization called the …

Identifying Barriers In Black Communities That Hinder The Engagement In Lgbt Affirming Behaviors. Clinical Implications For Understanding Barriers To Attaining Adequate Social Support When Working With Lgbt People Of Color., Raven Howard

Dissertations

Institutional oppression and social inequality have been a topic of importance for decades within the literature. These adverse events may lead to many mental health problems, segregation between identity groups, and a hostile environment. This study aims to analyze the barriers in Black communities that may prevent Black communities from providing adequate social support or advocating for LGBT people of color. The primary question is: Does religious beliefs and levels of engagement in intergroup dialogue and intergroup contact impact the likelihood of engagement in LGBT affirming behaviors. Participants (n = 276) completed an anonymous online survey, and linear regression results …

Using Novel Spectroscopy Tool To Study Organized Self-Assemblies, Mohammad Rafe M Bin Hatshan

Dissertations

Organized self-assemblies are the cornerstones for countless biological processes and are integral parts of lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and cell membranes. Several man-made organized assemblies also play a vital role in interdisciplinary sciences that include micelles, reverse micelles, polymers, polyelectrolytes etc. Weak chemical interactions such as hydrogen bonding, p-p stacking, hydrophilic-hydrophobic and electrostatics often result in interesting organized self-assemblies. Understanding organized self-assemblies provides a huge opportunity to mimic naturally occurring biological macromolecules, design materials and develop strategies for specific applications. Several techniques are routinely used to understand the organized self-assemblies, and optical techniques play an important role in most …