Digital Commons Network^™

Mind The Gap: Intergenerational Perspectives On Mental Illness Within Ghanaian American Communities, Ama Danso-Ayesu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research explores attitudes toward mental illness among Ghanaian immigrants and

first-generation Ghanaian Americans, with particular focus on factors that influence

stigma. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Model, the study utilized the

Community Attitudes Toward Mental Illness (CAMI) Scale to measure four dimensions

of stigma, including authoritarianism, benevolence, social restrictiveness, and community

mental health ideology. A comparative, cross-sectional design was employed to examine

differences between immigrant and American-born participants. The findings revealed

generational differences where Ghanaian immigrants reported higher levels of

authoritarian and socially restrictive beliefs, while first-generation Ghanaian Americans

demonstrated more benevolent and inclusive attitudes. Interpreted through the ecological

systems …

The Making Of Jewish-American Progress In Gertrude Stein’S, The Making Of Americans: Being A History Of A Family’S Progress, Rochel L. Gasson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation provides a comprehensive reading of Gertrude Stein’s The Making of Americans (TMOA), situating the novel at the intersection of literary modernism, Jewish American identity, and feminist thought. It argues that Stein reconceives American progress not as linear advancement but as a recursive, relational, and culturally grounded process. Through experimental form, repetitive syntax, and a sustained present tense, TMOA dramatizes the psychological and social complexities of immigrant families navigating assimilation while maintaining heritage. Characters such as the Old Man, his son, and the Dehning and Herland families reveal generational tensions, moral labor, and the ambivalences of upward …

Likes For Love: Examining The Relationship Of Sociocultural Factors On Social Media Influences Of Instagram Use For Young Black Women, Cheria S. Jackson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent years there has been a push toward studying ethnic minority women related to the psychological implications of image and beauty, as historically the focus has been on the experiences of European women (Awad et al., 2015). Black women must process sexual development, attitudes, and behaviors through the lens of the sexual scripts and stereotypes of their ethnic group and must negotiate between mainstream and culture specific norms of sexuality (Daniels and Zurbriggen, 2016; Jerald et al., 2017). The presence of these scripts signifies a difference between Black women and other races about how they may internalize and react …

Counselor Perspectives On Substance Use Treatment In Pennsylvania As Medical Cannabis Laws Evolve, Renee L. Ludwig

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cannabis, once primarily regarded as a recreational or “party” drug, has undergone a significant shift in public and medical perception over the past two decades. It is now increasingly recognized as a therapeutic agent prescribed within clinical settings. While substantial research has examined the general use of medical cannabis, relatively little attention has been given to its implications for substance use counselors treating clients who use medical cannabis during treatment for substance use disorders. The purpose of this study is to explore the perceptions of substance use counselors regarding client use of medical cannabis and to investigate how such use …

Charter School Counselor's Perceived Barriers To Implementing A Recognized Asca Model Program, Nadene P. Pomerico

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In 2003, the American School Counselor Association published its first edition of the ASCA National Model—a framework for school counselors to develop and implement comprehensive school counseling programming. This streamlined guidance supports school counselors in developing and implementing comprehensive school counseling programming that prioritizes services to students with systematic intentionality. In addition, the American School Counselor Association released the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) award. This distinction is awarded to school counseling programs that demonstrate the implementation of the ASCA National Model with fidelity, which includes using data to evaluate the impact of school counseling programming. Through the years, a …

An Ancient And Future Model Of Ecclesial Ministry: Exploring Insights From African Ecclesiology For A Revitalized Understanding Of The Catechist In The Amecea Region, Fortunatus Mugisha

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The ministry of the catechist has historically been an enduring and transformative ministry in the life of the Church in Africa, particularly in the AMECEA region. Within the AMECEA region (Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa), catechists have ministered not merely as transmitters of the faith but as the “unsung heroes and heroines” and vital agents of evangelization, pastoral care, and community leadership serving as the local face of the Church. This dissertation, relying on the insights from African ecclesiologies, proposes a renewed theological and pastoral understanding of the catechist as an ancient and future model of ecclesial …

Navigating The Digital Divide: A Quantitative Analysis Of The Digital Literacy Skills Of College Students Through The Lens Of Technological Self-Efficacy, Robert M. Spisak Jr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative dissertation addresses the digital literacy skills gap among college students and their ability to effectively use digital technologies in higher education. While many students arrive with technical skills, gaps exist in their ability to critically assess information, ethically engage with digital content, and apply these competencies across academic and professional contexts. Grounded in the framework of technological self-efficacy, which emphasizes the belief in one’s ability to perform digital tasks, this study examines both the digital literacy skills student bring from high school and their self-perceptions of those skills during college. This study was guided by the following research …

Child Care For Student Parents: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of Policy And Politics In Nys, Elizabeth M. Starks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This policy analysis dissertation explores the complex and multifaceted challenges that exist within New York State’s early childhood care and education (ECCE) system by critically examining the amendment of one NYS social services law. Guided by Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis, this study examines two research questions (under one overarching question):

1. What language and arguments are effective in making change in Early Childhood policy in NYS?
   1. What is the policy discourse surrounding the amendment of subdivision 1 of section 410-w social services law in NYS?
   2. What is the political discourse surrounding the amendment of subdivision 1 of section 410-w social services …

The Experience Of African American Male Counselor Educators Navigating Racial Battle Fatigue, Quincy J. Stephenson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A qualitative phenomenological approach was used in this research to explore the lived experiences of African American male counselor educators (AAMCEs) in historically or predominantly White universities who have obtained tenure and promotion. The need for equitable support, recruitment, and retention of faculty of color in counselor education has received more attention from universities in recent years. Although some advancement has occurred, AAMCEs continue to be underrepresented in academia, especially counselor education. There has been research concerning the impact of racism on and resilience of AAMCEs; however, there is a lack of research concerning how this specific population navigates racial …

Exploring The Potential Effects Of Read Naturally Live To Support Reading Fluency Development In Diverse Learners, Jovonne Tabb

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The ability to comprehend and apply knowledge learned through reading is fundamental for individuals to become successful and productive citizens in society. The inability to read fluently and accurately with appropriate pacing and expression significantly inhibits text comprehension. Research suggests that children who do not develop reading fluency are more likely to experience learning and comprehension difficulties throughout their academic careers (Lange, 2019). Computer-assisted interventions (CAI) have demonstrated effectiveness in advancing students' reading fluency, particularly for those at risk of developing reading disabilities or those already diagnosed with reading difficulties. However, a significant gap exists in research examining CAI effectiveness …

Hoarding And The Hoarded Home: A Phenomenological And Psychoanalytic Study, Brianna Stich

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

While research on hoarding tends to isolate hoarders from the homes they hoard and in which they live, the hoard and the hoarder share a life in the home. This study explores how hoarders live with and live through their hoard at home. It combines psychoanalysis and phenomenology within a unique methodological framework to provide a hermeneutic reading of the psychological significances of the hoarded home. In this study, the contemporary conceptualization of hoarding is historically situated and critiqued from a phenomenological perspective, and the view that hoarding is a single, behaviorally-defined syndrome that is explainable by a cognitive-behavioral model …

Discovery Of The Multi-Ion Bridge Intermediate: A Computational Exploration Of The Mechanism For Azomethine Ylide Formation From N-Oxides, Martin J. Neal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Density functional theory (DFT) provides a method for calculating the ground-state energies of complex molecular systems through evaluating the electron density instead of the full wave function. When results match either experimental outcomes, calculations with DFT offer a computationally efficient method to help explain chemical phenomena. The transformation of tertiary amine N-oxides to azomethine ylides, a simple route to the precursor for 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions that result in the pyrrolidine scaffolds found in natural products, has received only minimal attention due to concerns that its mechanism includes a highly electrophilic intermediate. Utilizing DFT to model the mechanism of the conversion …

Limiting A Liberal Education: Exploring Technology Access And Equity Through Universal Design And Critical Disability Studies, Marisa R. Carlson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative improvement study investigates how classroom technology policies impact equity, access, and alignment with liberal arts values at a small Catholic liberal arts college. The study arose from concerns regarding academic accommodations, where students needed to formally request access to digital tools that were widely available. The focus is on inconsistent and sometimes restrictive technology policies that create barriers for students relying on these resources.

Interpreted through the conceptual frameworks of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Critical Disability Studies (CDS), this study was guided by the following research questions:

1. What expectations do students have regarding access to technology …

An Examination Of The Types Of Support Beginning Teachers In Public K-12 Schools Identify As Most Effective For Overcoming The Challenges They Encounter, Matthew S. Heckmann

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research study examines the types of support beginning teachers in public K-12 schools identify as most effective for overcoming the challenges they encounter. Self-Efficacy Theory (Bandura, 1977) serves as the theoretical framework guiding this research, aiming to understand how various types of support and challenges encountered impact the self-efficacy of beginning teachers. Through a qualitative phenomenological approach, individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with five beginning elementary teachers in Western Pennsylvania to explore the two research questions of this study through their lived experiences:

RQ1: What challenges do beginning K-12 public school teachers encounter early in their careers?

RQ2: Which …

Not Always Welcomed, Lavaughn Wesley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

This qualitative dissertation explores the systemic barriers faced by adjudicated and long-term suspended youth during their reentry into the public school system, focusing on a local urban community in Pennsylvania. Through the lens of Institutional Complexity Theory, this study examines how interagency disconnection, implicit bias, inequitable disciplinary practices, and inadequate support structures contribute to the marginalization of historically underserved students, particularly Black youth, students with disabilities, and those from low-income households.

The research is driven by two central questions:

(1) What are the barriers for adjudicated youth during the reentry process?

(2) How can the home school reentry process …

(Un)Intended Consequences Of Race In Medicine: The Ethics Of Race-Based Medical Practice And The Perpetuation Of Structural Racism, Allegra Merriweather

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation proposes that race-based medicine acts as a form of structural racism that is ethically indefensible. While it may be claimed to be a neutral diagnostic tool, the medical use of race as a biological proxy only further enforces the very hierarchies it purports to remediate, reinscribing inequity from conception to death. Building off Jacques Ellul’s work on Technique, we interpret race-based medicine as a self-perpetuating system that values procedural expediency over moral accountability. In nine chapters, the analysis follows the ways this technique is manifested in genetics and assisted reproduction, where commodified racial selection preserves social hierarchies; in …

The Other Side Of The Wall: A Study On The Impact Of Paternal Incarceration On African American Children, Chance M. Wideman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative dissertation explores the long-term psychological, relational, and systemic impacts of paternal incarceration on adult children. Guided by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Theory, Attachment Theory, and Family Process Theory, this study examines two research questions:

(1) What types of childhood trauma are associated with paternal incarceration?

(2) How does the childhood trauma associated with paternal incarceration impact one in adulthood?

The study draws on three in-depth narrative interviews with adults who experienced paternal incarceration in childhood. These interviews, framed as dialogic and reflexive spaces, illuminate the deep and layered consequences of incarceration across the lifespan.

Five central findings emerged: …

Behavior Analytic Food Reinforcement Use And Guidelines In Interventions For Children With Autism, Christopher Rogers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Reinforcers create opportunities to increase behaviors in applied behavioral analysis, with healthy and unhealthy foods offering high reinforcing value. The use of food raises ethical and health concerns, so researchers and behavior analysts often avoid food reinforcement altogether. Kronfli et al. (2024) indicate healthy food alternatives bring about similar rates of responding as snack foods, potentially reducing ethical and health concerns. This research presents the question: To what degree are food reinforcers used in behavioral interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder? This review analyzes behavioral research articles containing the words “food,” “edible,” “autism,” and “children” in the context of …

Integrating The Five As Framework To Enhance Person-Centered Care For Adults Living With Obesity, Alexandra Charles

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Obesity has adverse effects on physical health, emotional well-being, and mental functioning. To effectively address this highly prevalent and multifaceted condition, the use of a structured, evidence-informed framework is essential to support providers in delivering consistent, person-centered care for individuals living with obesity. The Five As is a powerful yet not commonly implemented framework in many primary care practices. The Five As framework (Ask, Assess, Advise, Agree, Assist) offers a structured model to guide clinicians in delivering consistent, supportive, and transformative care for individuals with obesity.

The goal of the project was to implement a timely and cost-effective protocol/tool that …

Sue Gunter And The Battle For Equity In Women’S Athletics At Sfa, Derek S. Allen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

From the 1950’s through the 2000’s, women’s college basketball would move from a category of inappropriate activity to selling out large arenas and being broadcast to millions of viewers on national TV. Such a result came largely from federally mandated stipulation contained within Title IX, accelerated a fight for equity and acceptance, and advanced the cause for women’s athletics more than any other initiative. However, that alone would have failed to grow the popularity of a sport such as women’s basketball if it did not produce a quality product for fans. Beyond the need for resources comparable to men’s athletics, …

Schemata Of Barbershop Tags, Brian A. Cromer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the genre of barbershop tags, brief musical compositions in the barbershop style. After the introduction in Chapter 1, Chapter 2 describes the barbershop style and outlines a modified roman numeral system that reflects barbershop norms. Chapter 3 analyzes the 125 entries of the Classic Book of Tags based on two features: the harmonic point of interest (HPI) and the penultimate chord. Patterns emerging from these two criteria include eleven primary schemata along with a few secondary schemata accounting for the harmonic design for a majority of tags. Chapter 4 analyzes two barbershop arrangements: “Come Fly With Me” …

Gypsy Spirit Suite: An Original Jazz Manouche Composition For Large Ensemble, Nicholas Knirk

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents an original jazz manouche musical composition, Gypsy Spirit Suite, arranged for a large ensemble comprising winds, horns, strings, guitar, cimbalom, vibraphone, and percussion. The composition integrates jazz manouche (gypsy jazz) elements, such as chromatic passing chords, virtuosic melodic runs, and la pompe rhythm, into a large ensemble. Modal interchange, extended harmonies, and fusion with genres like latin and funk generate interest and reflect contemporary jazz manouche evolution. The written thesis supports the composition through a detailed analysis of jazz manouche harmonic schema, instrumental techniques, idiomatic passages, and orchestration techniques that blend jazz and classical genres. By …

Patterns Of Historical And Contemporary Distribution And Occurrence Of Imperiled Fish Populations In East Texas Streams, Maggie F. Moses

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

East Texas supports a very diverse freshwater fish fauna, yet many of these species are listed as Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). In this study, I investigated historical and contemporary distribution trends of ten fish species listed as SGCN within the Neches, Sabine, and Cypress River basins in East Texas. Specifically, I examined regional and local environmental variables influencing their distributions and occurrences at both time periods. At the regional scale, I developed ecological niche models (Maxent) using occurrence data from 1940–1999 (historical) and 2000–present (contemporary, including surveys from 2023–2025) to evaluate changes in habitat and identify key regional …

Profiles Of Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd) Using The Personality Assessment Inventory (Pai), Tailyn L. Gillette

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is often diagnosed in childhood. However, the disorder can be more complex to diagnose in adulthood as several comorbid disorders may also impact attention. Many symptoms, often prevalent in childhood, taper off in adulthood, adding to the difficulty of differential diagnosis. Clinicians must decipher symptoms of ADHD from comorbid disorders during diagnostic procedures, which can be tedious. As the requests for adult ADHD diagnoses grow, the need for more efficient diagnostic procedures seems to be ever-present. The current research utilized an exploratory two-step cluster analysis to explore subgroups that resulted from archival data of adults with ADHD. …

A Sedimentary Source Of Rare Earth Elements In The North Atlantic, Rylee D. Lindner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Individually and as a series, the Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are powerful geochemical tracers of environmental processes. However, ambiguities in the oceanic budgets of the REEs hamper their application. Growing evidence suggests a sedimentary benthic flux via the pore water is the major source of REEs to the ocean, with extrapolated estimates of this flux being equivalent in magnitude to that “missing” from modern budgets. However, existing pore water REE data are available from only a few locations globally with no representative dataset from the open North Atlantic. This data scarcity limits our ability to constrain flux estimates and understand …

Robust Anomaly Detection Under Data Imbalance, Noise, And Label Scarcity, Zahra Salekshahrezaee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In today’s data-driven landscape, large volumes of data are generated continuously, often containing imperfections such as noise, missing data, or unreliable labeling. These real-world datasets are typically high-dimensional, sparsely labeled, and imbalanced, creating substantial challenges for both supervised and unsupervised learning. These challenges are especially prevalent in the task of anomaly detection, where instances belonging to the class of interest are rare and underrepresented compared to normal instances. This dissertation proposes and evaluates robust frameworks for anomaly detection that address these data challenges and improve model performance and robustness using real-world datasets, including credit card transactions and cognitive assessments. Supervised …

Increasing Colon Cancer Screening Completion Rates Utilizing Patient Navigation In Primary Care: A Quality Improvement Project, Anya C. Pennycooke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. It is highly preventable through routine screening and early detection, yet national data indicate that one in three eligible adults remains unscreened. The purpose of this Quality Improvement (QI) project was to increase colon cancer screening completion rates by implementing a patient navigation program. Kristen Swanson’s Theory of Caring guided the intervention by promoting patient-centered communication. W. Edwards Deming’s Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model provided the framework for this approach. Patients aged 45-75 years due for colon cancer screening were identified using the electronic health record (EHR) in …

Controlling The Size And Surface Chemistry Of Nickel Nanoparticles Via A Modified Polyol Method, Gladel Saintilme

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study presents a detailed exploration of the synthesis, morphological tuning, and physicochemical characterization of nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs) engineered for catalytic applications in aqueous environments. Using a modified polyol method adapted from Couto et al., nanoparticles were synthesized under controlled thermal and chemical conditions with nickel chloride hexahydrate, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and sodium borohydride in ethylene glycol according to a modified version of this synthesis protocol.1 The reaction temperature and reactivity of the reducing agent were found to significantly influence particle size. Reaction temperatures were varied between 120° C and 170° C, resulting in nanoparticle sizes between 23 ± 7 …

Deep Learning For Underwater Manatee Counting And Tracking, Theodor Owchariw

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), a threatened marine mammal often found in coastal waters, require accurate monitoring to inform conservation strategies. However, traditional counting methods are hindered by observer bias and surface distortions. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) address these challenges using captured aerial footage of manatees, demonstrating the potential of artificial intelligence for automating manatee counting. Still, various challenges arise hindering accurate counts.

Building on these studies, this work advances artificial intelligence with underwater footage, instance segmentation, data augmentation, and pseudo-labeling to automate manatee counting in data-scarce environments. Three experiments were conducted using 10%, 60%, and 90% …

Improving Patient Outcomes Through Implementation Of The Kdoqi Guidelines For Tunneled Dialysis Catheter Placement, Gabriela Echagaray

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to enhance adherence to the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) guidelines for placement of tunneled dialysis catheters (TDCs) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The project addressed inconsistent application of best practices related to TDC placement, improved documentation, improved communication using TigerConnect, a reduction in inappropriate catheter placements, and maintenance of a zero hospital-acquired tunneled dialysis catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) rate. Notably, some patients continued to be admitted with pre-existing community-acquired tunneled catheter-related infections, underscoring the effectiveness of the hospital’s internal infection prevention strategies while highlighting the need for enhanced collaboration with outpatient …