Digital Commons Network^™

Famines, Poverty And Intergenerational Mobility In Developing Countries, Monishankar Sarkar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The famine has not ended yet. Though much has been done, famine is still visiting some parts of the globe, ravaging economies, taking lives, and compelling people to experience acute hunger, starvation, and associated diseases. Deadly famines have impacted parts of Asia and the Pacific at different times. China has experienced the most lethal famine in history in terms of severity and fatalities. Africa is still facing famine. There are many countries worldwide, across continents, whose population is still facing hunger and starvation on an alarming scale. Thus, famine is still relevant today.

The effects of famine have been the …

The Impact Of Foreign Aid On Internal Stability: A Case Study Of Costa Rica And Venezuela, Sierra P. Tanner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the relationship between foreign aid and the internal stability of recipient countries. Foreign aid programs have been an important tool through which countries can receive support in development efforts. Through extensive case study and process tracing analysis of twelve foreign aid projects in Venezuela and Costa Rica, this thesis examines the question: Does foreign aid impact the internal stability of the recipient state? Although Costa Rica and Venezuela have different levels of internal stability, patterns emerge associating different types of aid projects with outcomes in both countries. The research finds that the impact of foreign aid on …

Academic Performance Of Low Ses At-Risk Black And Latinx Students: A Case Study Of Teachers’ Perceptions, Shelly Lynn Anderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study determined the perspective of the teacher when researching low SES at-risk Black and Latinx students’ academic performance. Research, over the years, not only highlight reasons and evidence for the low academic performance and the struggles the low SES at-risk Black and Latinx students face. In addition, research also recommends educational interventions that are not effective in bridging the achievement gap of low SES at-risk Black and Latinx students in comparison to their wealthier, White counterparts. Previous research denotes that school districts desire to implement educational interventions for struggling learners; however, theories, strategies, and interventions often do not translate …

Legitimization Of Affective Domain Learning: A Transformative Mixed-Methods Analysis Of Learning Outcomes Assessment Practice, Lan Misty Song

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ever since the development of Bloom’s Taxonomy, educational institutions have primarily focused on the cognitive learning domain, concerned with the transmission and acquisition of knowledge and skills. Recently, educators and researchers have become more interested in the affective domain—concerned with attitudes, emotions, and values—and how it affects student learning outcomes. While it is important to address affective-domain learning in any educational setting, one discipline giving it particular attention is nursing; their accrediting bodies are increasingly incorporating affective learning outcomes (ALOs) in their criteria. Thus, examining how nursing programs assess for ALOs may give insight in how to successfully integrate affective-domain …

Venous Leg Ulcers: An Analysis Of Nursing Knowledge, Shelia Moore-Miller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This project evaluated the knowledge level of wound center nursing staff on venous leg ulcer etiology and treatments after an educational intervention. To determine the effectiveness of the educational intervention, participants completed a pretest and posttest evaluation. Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are chronic lower extremity ulcers affecting older Americans. VLUs are painful and negatively affect activities of daily living. Inadequate VLU treatment can become an infectious process that can ultimately threaten limb existence. A quantitative, quasi-experimental study was conducted over three weeks in a hospital-based wound care center in central Florida. The theoretical framework applied to this project is Lydia …

Burnout In Medical Assistants In Primary Care: Can Mindfulness Be A Solution?, Natalee D. Calais

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Burnout is described as feelings associated with emotional exhaustion, depersonalization of patients, and a loss of sense of personal accomplishment and it is unique to healthcare workers. Current research highlights this condition among physicians, nurses, and mid-level providers; however, insufficient research exists regarding the effects of burnout on medical assistants. Research led to mindfulness as a possible solution defined as an intentional regulation of attention and awareness of the present moment. This project sought to see if mindfulness practices could be utilized to mitigate the effects of burnout in medical assistants. It was hypothesized that mindfulness could be a solution. …

A Multiple Case Study: The Impact Of Instructional Coaching On Novice Teachers, Misti N Tope

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study addressed the problem of retention for novice teachers in struggling schools. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to provide insight into the support instructional coaches provide novice teachers in an urban school district. School administrators have worked to determine the best method for utilizing their instructional coach to improve instructional practices and increase novice teacher retention. Data were collected using structured interviews with instructional leadership team members and their novice teachers. Three research sites were used, including one elementary, middle, and high school in an Oklahoma large urban school district. Findings indicated that good instructional …

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Techniques In Chronic Illness, Anna Celia Gil

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Chronic stress and its effect on both physical and mental health have been a topic of increasing interest in the past several decades. There is mounting evidence that recurrent, persistent stress of both a physiologic and psychological nature leads to a dysfunction in the hypothalamic pituitary axis (HPA), the system which helps the body recover and adapt to short term stress. In long term stress, this HPA dysfunction leads to impairment of the immune and neuroendocrine systems resulting in chronic low-grade inflammation. This type of chronic inflammation acts as a precursor to several chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, …

Female Ex-Offenders Transitioning Into Society, Stacey L. Forte

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine female ex-offenders’ perceptions of their lived experience(s) while transitioning into society after incarceration. This study examined risk factors that female ex-offenders faced while transitioning into society asking the question, “What are the lived experiences of female ex-offenders who utilized transitional housing for reentry with regard to their perception of the benefits of certain services/offerings and staff support?” Nine participants were part of the study ranging from 25–64 years of age, with the majority being between the ages of 25 and 55 years old, residing originally in five different states. Sixty percent …

A Descriptive Qualitative Study Exploring Middle-School Teachers’ Perceptions Of Professional Development On Technology Integration, Dayana Núñez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Today’s teachers are being encouraged to incorporate technology into their classrooms. Technology integration became a worldwide focus for schools after remote learning was necessary to continue instruction due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, research shows that technology-infused lessons improve student achievement and increase student engagement. Despite efforts to support teachers throughout the technology integration process, concerns have developed. Preparing highly qualified teachers ready to incorporate technology into their teaching repertoire has developed additional stress factors. In this descriptive qualitative study, the researcher wanted to address the problem of teacher attrition, possibly related to stress factors associated with technology integration. The …

Building Resilience In Graduate Nurses Through Online Virtual Simulation, Robert Grant Harmon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Resilience has become a popular topic in nursing research. Nurses experience enormous stress throughout their training process that extends into their first employment as they transition into practice. Simulation training is a standard for training nurses and for continuing professional education within academia. Most simulation training for nurses is focused on building critical thinking skills. While critical thinking is an essential quality equipping nurses to meet professional demands, resilience is a crucial quality to overcome the stress of both training and practice. Resilience is believed to play an essential role in the retention of new graduate nurses and preventing burnout …

Pediatric Obesity In Primary Care, Lynne C. Liggins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this evidence-based quantitative quasi-experimental research was to compare if providing the parents with information on the health risk associated with childhood obesity would cause the parents to make healthier food choices and encourage their children to be involved in a full hour of physical activity a day. Participants included parents and pediatric and adolescent children 5 to 18 years of age at a solo practice primary care office in a large city in Southern, California, which specializes in treating pediatric and adolescent patients. A pre- and postquantitative intervention design were used and analyzed using the paired t …

Examining Leadership Experiences And Practices Of African American Women In Higher Education Settings To Overcome Barriers, Tanya Stubbs White

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract: This qualitative case study described the steps 11 African American women have practiced in growing and continuing their path to notable success in higher education leadership. No one size will fit all, but the methods used by African American women may guide other African American or culturally diverse women on how to transcend into and ascertain the well-deserved leadership roles in higher education administration or faculty careers. This study provided narratives of the women leaders to explain their journey to a leadership role. The purpose of the study was to describe the path, barriers, and supports that African American …

Til Valhall: The Formation Of Nordic Neopagan Identity, Religiosity, And Community At A Norwegian Heavy Metal Festival, Padraic M. Fitzgerald

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A major draw of Nordic Neopaganism is the great degree of personal freedom practitioners have in the construction and performance of their spiritual identity. Nordic Neopaganism has no central hierarchy or unifying dogmatic system to dictate such endeavors. Instead, practitioners draw from the tradition’s body of “lore” -- the historical accounts, archaeological records, pre-Christian myths, folklore, and folk traditions from the Nordic cultural area -- to inform their religiosity. The works of visual artists, musicians, and scholar-practitioners inspired by elements of this body of lore serve to further constitute it. This lore provides the basis and inspiration for religious identity …

A Phenomenological Study Of Science Teachers’ Lived Experience: Pedagogical Judgment During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Amy Vo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, in March of 2020, education in the United States changed dramatically. Science teachers began to look at the implementation of ambitious and equitable science teaching practices differently. Employing the hermeneutic phenomenological framework, the purpose of this study was to investigate the lived experience of science teachers, specifically looking at their pedagogical judgment related to ambitious and equitable science teaching. Semi-structured interviews, artifacts and surveys were used to develop a rich description of the phenomenon. Data analysis of the science teachers’ narratives, Qualtrics surveys, and lesson plans illuminated six essential themes common to all …

Plant Community Response To Control Of A Dominant Invader At Multiple Scales, Alexander R. B. Goetz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Control of invasive Tamarix spp. in riparian systems has long been a priority for management in western North America, but questions remain regarding the response of the broader plant community to different treatments. Here we summarize a series of approaches at different scales to quantify the effects of Tamarix control on characteristics of this ecosystem, including provisioning of wildlife habitat. In the first chapter we analyzed findings of the last 20 years using meta-analysis and found that although treatment has been successful in reducing Tamarix and promoting native vegetation to some extent, most literature reports very small effect sizes and …

Virtual Reality Influence On Moral Reasoning Through Compassion, Dennis W. Dunivan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates quantifiable links between virtual reality, moral reasoning, and compassion, contributing to the development of improved pedagogy for moral leadership development through experiential learning. It is the first empirical study to determine how specific virtual reality experiences potentially influence moral reasoning as measured by the DIT-2 (Rest et al., 1999), as well as the possible mediation effects of compassion on this relationship as measured by the Compassion Scale (Pommier et al., 2019). Although pedagogical implications are discussed, including the integration of virtual reality experiences into curriculum, the boundaries of this study are controlled to measure the direct influence …

Sense Of Community And (Third) Place Among Young Adults In Permanent Supportive Housing: A Mixed-Methods Inquiry, Danielle Maude Littman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Unhoused young people have often endured co-occurring experiences of marginalization, including long-term abuse and neglect from systems which have failed to support them. Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) is a formal intervention which seeks to offer stability and support to young people. This three-manuscript dissertation uses community-engaged mixed methods to understand sense of community, sense of place, and third places among young adults in PSH in Grand Junction, Colorado.

The first manuscript used longitudinal mixed methods to understand how PSH residents’ (N = 27) sense of community shifts over 1.5 years of living in PSH. We found that residents’ sense …

A Participatory Drone Mapping And Critical Physical Geography Of Water Security For Irrigation In Northern Ghana, Dinko Hanaan Dinko

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dam discourse frequently incorrectly assumes that their emergence unilinearly translates to an expansion of economic opportunities while not considering how dams become sites for the reproduction of inequality and injustice. This dissertation investigates how the politics of irrigation water access are nested in a complex web of physical materialities of the 'natural' environment and power relations, with lived consequences on differentiated social identities in semiarid Ghana. The research draws on transdisciplinary perspectives from political ecology, embodiment, critical physical geography, and mixed methods, including interviews, focus group discussions, surveys, participatory drone mapping, and laboratory analysis of soil biochemical properties. The study …

Islamic Studies Teachers' Perspectives Of Applying Technology In Saudi Arabia Elementary Schools, Amal Abdulmohsen Alsaif

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, the use of technology in education has been on the rise around the world, and Saudi Arabia is no exception. The integration of technology in Saudi education has the potential to enhance the quality of education, increase access to education, and provide students with the skills they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world. It also has the potential to facilitate collaboration between students and teachers, both within and outside the classroom, and to promote lifelong learning.

The purpose of this qualitative study is to investigate Islamic Studies teachers' perceptions of using technology in their classrooms …

Ethics In Kakadu (1988): Finding Djilile’S “True Tracks”, Natasia T. Boyko

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Tasmanian-born Peter Sculthorpe (1929 – 2014) was one of Australia’s most iconic modernist classical composers of the twentieth century. Kakadu (1988) seems to have sparked the most controversy of Sculthorpe’s works and has become one of his most well-known pieces. In the program notes provided in the score’s foreword, Sculthorpe asserts that “the melodic material in Kakadu, as in much of my recent music, was suggested by the contours and rhythms of Aboriginal chant.” Sculthorpe attributed this melodic material to the Arnem Land chant, Djilile. Consequently, Sculthorpe has been criticized for extracting Djilile from its authentic context as …

Reviving Heritage In A Historic Gem City: Examining The Management Of History At The Colonial Quarter In St. Augustine, Florida, Madeline Bonner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Colonial Quarter is a living history venue of Spanish and British colonial heritage in St. Augustine, Florida. Since 1966, the site has housed interpretive structures and programming related to St. Augustine’s colonial history. Over time, management of the site has fallen under the purview of the state of Florida, the city of St. Augustine, and the University of Florida Historic St. Augustine (UFHSA) Direct Support Organization, which functions as a managing agency for the state. In 2013, the UFHSA Board entered into a public-private partnership with the Colonial Quarter, LLC. This marks the first instance of private sector involvement …

Water Literacy In Drought-Prone Regions: Case Studies From Aurora, Colorado, Usa And Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa, Meghan Mccarroll

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Water managers around the world must reevaluate their approach to water security as challenges continue to grow. Supply-focused paradigms that aimed to capture, control, and commodify water resources are increasingly unreliable and often depend on environmentally and socially damaging practices. Of particular concern are regions experiencing climate shocks and aridification from rising global temperatures. In order to stretch limited water resources using equitable water policies, conservation programs, and alternative water sourcing, water managers must invest in a water literate citizenry. Water literacy is the culmination of water-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. The benefits of a water literate citizenry abound, including …

3 Essays On Protests, Repression, And Signaling, Dogus Aktan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on conceptual development across multiple questions of political contention, with a focus on informational processes. In the first paper, I examine the interaction of informational and disruptive effects of protests with a formal model. The model shows that repression can have a screening purpose. Governments use coercion to set the terms of contention so that they only have to accommodate sufficiently aggrieved and salient groups, while filtering out the rest. The model also demonstrates that decreased cost of mobilization makes repression indirectly cheaper for governments, leading to more repression. In the second paper, I examine why governments …

Defining Business As Usual In Preschool Interventions For Challenging Behavior, Eleanor Bold

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Challenging behavior (CB) is a major barrier to service delivery in preschool classrooms. Persistent CB has been found to significantly impact children’s academic and social success long-term, especially amongst children from historically minoritized populations and those with disabilities. Numerous evidence-based intervention strategies exist to prevent and reduce CB, yet preschool teachers continue to voice a desire to increase their capacity to do so in the classroom due to high rates of CB continuing to be observed. This dissertation seeks to address this research to practice gap by ascertaining the current baseline intervention practices utilized to manage CB in preschool classrooms …

The Not-So-Silent Period: Testimonios Of Recently Arrived Latinx Students, Teri M. Hutchinson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore and amplify the experiences of recently arrived Latinx¹ students as interpreted through their testimonios in educational borderlands. Through increasingly xenophobic discourses around immigrants and their children (Pérez Huber, 2015), U.S. public schools have become entrenched borderland spaces wherein the humanity of recently arrived students is voided through silencing them with labels of linguistic deficiency and cramming them into one-size-fits-all educational programming (Fine et al., 2007; Flores & Rosa, 2015). There is demand for research that explores the experiences of these children, especially in light of their continued marginalization through neoliberal programming …

Tactical Allocation Through The Lens Of Correlational Time-Variance, Determinants, And Regimes, T.H. Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

We investigate correlations among six primary asset classes from January 1982 to December 2022. Our analysis extends existing literature, on the well-researched stock-bond correlation (SBC), by encompassing 14 supplementary asset class dyads and four correlational regimes. We challenge the archetype of correlational time-invariance that underlies buy-and-hold asset allocation strategies by implementing structural break tests and an innovative Wavelet Coherence (WC) methodology, where our findings reveal temporal instability. Through a multi-method statistical approach, we present robust and persuasive evidence of macroeconomic factors as determinants of temporal change. Leveraging time-varying Granger causality, we unearth elusive yet significant relationships. Our research pivots to …

Process Depletion In Emotion Regulation, Christian Capistrano Boeckner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The ability to regulate emotions via reappraisal is considered an important skill that is associated with greater well-being. However, the effectiveness of emotion regulation is impacted by individual differences, and its adaptiveness may vary depending on context. For example individuals from vulnerable populations such as children and mothers in the context of poverty often demonstrate less optimal reappraisal, that is in turn associated with maladaptive behaviors. Given its consequence on mental health, it is critical to understand mechanisms that influence reappraisal to maximize its adaptive consequences. The current study explored conditions that could either facilitate or impair reappraisal success. We …

Higher Education’S Effect On Retention: Exploring The Experiences Of Cps Caseworkers, Alisa S. Wright

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative research study was an exploration of Child Protective Services (CPS) frontline caseworkers' experiences. The problem investigated was the high number of caseworkers who lacked the knowledge and skills necessary to do their job and the constant turnover of workers within the agency. Although previous researchers have explored many factors that cause caseworker turnover, the research has not focused much on the caseworkers’ perspective. Therefore, this qualitative study explored CPS caseworkers’ opinions and experiences using virtual semistructured interviews. The study specifically focused on the impact that education and training has on job performance and turnover. The study population was …

Three-Dimensional Extrusion Based Bioprinting Of Metronidazole Immediate Release Tablets; Impact Of Processing Parameters And In-Vitro Evaluation, Atharva Bhatkande

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the applicability of a 3-Dimensional extrusion-based bioprinter in developing a 3D-printed tablet as a single-step process. Metronidazole was used as a model drug, and Eudragit® EPO as a taste-masking polymer for formulating taste-masked tablets. Processing parameters were optimized for the nozzle's printing speed, a printhead's heating temperature, and pressure. Oval-shaped tablets were printed with a rectilinear printing pattern of 30% and 100% infill. 3D printed tablets were characterized by Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The F9, F10, and F11 formulations showed desired printability, …