Digital Commons Network^™

Heat And Social Behavior: The Effect Of Personal And Social Well-Being, Antonia Michele Sottile

Master's Theses

High temperatures have the capacity to cause catastrophic changes in social and economic systems, but does heat impact our social behavior, and is this potential effect moderated by a person's social and personal well-being? In this paper, I utilize data from a 5 country laboratory experiment and run a fixed effect regression model to understand the role of these metrics in determining behavioral outcomes. The results suggest that heat alone has no impact on egalitarianism, generosity, or selfishness, but that it does have a small negative impact on spite. Stress was also found to have a negative impact on spite, …

Dose Higher Socioeconomic Status Associate With Better Mental Health Outcomes Among Primary Caregivers In Rural China?, Wenwen Zhang

Master's Theses

This study explores the intricate relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and the mental health outcomes of primary caregivers in rural China, focusing on the Early Childhood Development (ECD) context in Ya'an. Anchored in a major intervention project launched in 2023, the study critically examines the hypothesis that higher socioeconomic status correlates with lower levels of negative emotions among caregivers.

Utilizing cross-sectional data, the research investigates how educational attainment and household income influence caregivers' mental health, measured through the DASS-21 score in three dimensions: stress, anxiety, and depression. The findings reveal that higher household income and educational levels are significantly associated …

Conflict Related Sexual Violence In Ethiopia: An Applied Approach To Prevention, Liya Yared

Master's Theses

The Ethiopia-Tigray civil war is one of the deadliest conflicts in recent world history and quickly drew international attention for the mass reports of sexual violence, war crimes, and ethnic cleansing by federal militants. Mass rapes and sexual violence were used along ethnic lines to devastate and displace communities in Ethiopia. Despite the signing of the peace agreement in November 2022 to cease hostilities, the sexual violence has not come to an end. The violence has consequently spread to the Afar, Amhara, and Oromia regions, neighboring Tigray. The sexual violence in Ethiopia was core to the armed conflict. Nonetheless, the …

Preventing Conflict-Related Sexual Violence In Ethiopia: An Applied Approach Towards Prevention, Leah Yared

Master's Theses

The Ethiopia-Tigray civil war is one of the deadliest conflicts in recent world history and quickly drew international attention for the mass reports of sexual violence, war crimes, and ethnic cleansing by federal militants. Mass rapes and sexual violence were used along ethnic lines to devastate and displace communities in Ethiopia. Despite the signing of the peace agreement in November 2022 to cease hostilities, the sexual violence has not come to an end. The violence has consequently spread to the Afar, Amhara, and Oromia regions, neighboring Tigray. The sexual violence in Ethiopia was core to the armed conflict. Nonetheless, the …

Vrouwenwerk | Beyondtheglassceiling: Educate, Empower, Reimagine, Malou Lena Julia Desplenter

Master's Theses

In contemporary society, social media platforms have emerged as powerful tools for advocacy and activism. This thesis explores the potential of Instagram in raising awareness and fostering dialogue around workplace equity for women in Belgium. Inspired by influential women's advocacy accounts, I embarked on a journey to fill a noticeable gap in the digital landscape – the absence of Belgian-centric content addressing workplace empowerment for women. Grounded in the unique intersections of Belgian national policies, European Union directives, and global socio-economic dynamics, this capstone delves into the multifaceted challenges faced by Belgian women in the workplace.

Through critical historical analysis …

The Impact Of Index Based Livestock Insurance (Ibli) On Child Nutrition In Marsabit County, Kenya, Jackson Kadyampakeni

Master's Theses

The study uses six rounds of Index-Based Livestock Insurance (IBLI) panel surveys (2009 – 2015) for Northern Kenya’s Marsabit county to investigate the impact of IBLI on child nutrition and household food security. We employ Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Instrumental Variable (IV) regressions to account for potential endogeneity in IBLI uptake. The results indicate that while IBLI uptake significantly improves the intake of key nutrients such as Vitamin A, protein, iron, and fruits and vegetables, it does not translate into significant improvements in child nutrition status, as measured by Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) z-scores. Significant negative effects of age …

Matrilineal Ethnic Affiliation And Female Empowerment: Investigating Attitudes Towards Female Autonomy And Health In Ivorian Households, Martine Hind Stølan

Master's Theses

Kinship structure is a fundamental aspect of anthropology, however, there is still a gap in literature on its impact on economic research, particularly regarding female autonomy and health. This study aims to address this gap by examining the influence of matrilineal ethnic affiliation on attitudes towards female autonomy and health within Ivorian households. Using data from the 2011 IPUMS Demographic and Health Survey for the Ivory Coast, using female responses, this study investigates the complex dynamics shaping attitudes towards female autonomy and access to health care. Analysis on these aspects is done using ordinary least squares (OLS) and logistic estimations. …

Differential Impacts Of Covid-19 Policy Enforcement On Food Security Dynamics, Shiv Gargé

Master's Theses

The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified food insecurity in the United States, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations. This study examines the county-level impact of various COVID-19 policies on food insecurity using data from the U.S. COVID-19 County Policy (UCCP) Database and Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap study. Employing a Difference-in-Difference (DiD) approach and a Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS) regression with two political instrumental variables to address potential endogeneity concerns, the findings reveal nuanced impacts. DiD estimates did not show significant effects on the rate of change in food insecurity but indicated promising signs for absolute population values. The 2SLS results suggest …

Does Endogamous Marriage Impact Women's Fertility Gaps In India?, Natalya Francis Schafer

Master's Theses

This study aimed to measure the possible impact endogamous (within-family) marriage practices could have on women's fertility gaps in India. Fertility gap in this study is defined as the difference between the ideal number of children a woman desires and the total number of children born to a woman at time of interview. In many developing countries ,such as India, it is common for women to be overachieving their fertility - having more children than desired. Data from the CIA.gov (2024) shows total fertility rates to be highest in developing areas across Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and India. The …

The Diorama Of Coexistence Hypnagogia: The Liminal Space Between Dream And Reality, Yunseok Song

Master's Theses

The “Diorama of Coexistence” explores the imagined spaces where humans and animals share the same environments, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. This year-long photographic project is inspired by my Christian faith and the Genesis creation narrative, where the world was originally harmonious and unspoiled. Through my work, I aim to reimagine the natural world, not as it is, but as it could be a place where animals and humans coexist peacefully.

In researching human development and its impact on nature, I found that animals are often confined to spaces like zoo, far from their natural habitats. This led …

Taking The Bang Out Of The Gang: The Impact Of Catholic Schools On Gang Homicides In El Salvador, Ann Jillian Villanueva Adona

Master's Theses

This study explores the impact of Catholic presence on homicide rates in El Salvador, specifically focusing on the role of Catholic schools in reducing violence in gang-afflicted municipalities. Analyzing municipality-level data from various years, I used Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Instrumental Variable (IV) regressions to study the association between school enrollment and homicide rates. Results show that higher enrollment in Catholic schools is linked to a reduction in homicide rates in gang-affected areas, contrasting with an increase in homicides for non-religious schools. This research sheds light on the importance of investing in Catholic education as a strategy for violence …

Investigating Racial Disparities Within Maternal Health Care In The United States: How Race, Socioeconomic Status And Geographic Location Affect Quality And Access To Maternal Health Care, Olivia Clopton Foster

Master's Theses

In this analysis, I delve into the historical context of medical racism in the United States, including the dark history of medical experimentation on black bodies from the time of the antebellum south until now. I pose the question: What is the correlation between race, socioeconomic status and geographic location to the quality and access to maternal health care? This deeply anti black historical background has a direct correlation to the quality and access of healthcare for black mothers. I approach this analysis through both a theoretical framework and statistical research, specifically highlighting the works of black feminist and global …

Exploring The Relationship Between Load Shedding And Crime In Gauteng, Bhavesh Ram

Master's Theses

This study investigates the impact of load shedding, a recurring power outage phenomenon in South Africa, on crime rates in the densely populated Gauteng province. Using a novel dataset that combines Eskom's load shedding schedules with detailed crime statistics from 2015 to 2022, a fixed-effects regression model is employed to examine the relationship between blackout hours and various crime categories. Findings reveal that while load shedding does not significantly affect overall crime rates, it significantly increases the incidence of contact crimes and sexual offenses, particularly during daylight hours. Additionally, our results provide evidence that load shedding diminishes the ability of …

Comfortability In The Latino And Hispanic Community, Vanessa Flores

Master's Theses

Many organizations often publicize their efforts to help particular communities but, how helpful are they to those who are their targets? For this reason this research focuses on the question of, how do programs create inclusivity and accessibility to the Hispanic community? This study focuses on five specific organizations that all commonly support the Hispanic Community in California, although some do go outside of the state due to extensions. In this study I have analyzed the content presented on each organization's website and determined their accessibility and inclusivity within the Hispanic community. This research analyzes the websites content thoroughly through …

Sport As A Means Of Emancipation: A Global Feminist Perspective, Exploring The Case Study Of Sahrawi Athlete Inma Zanoguera, Olivia Alexandre

Master's Theses

This thesis explores how sport can serve as an effective means of emancipation against intersecting forms of oppression, framed in the colonial context of Western Sahara. Through the case study of Sahrawi athlete and activist Inma Zanoguera, this research examines the emancipatory potential of athletics at the intersection of feminism, decolonization and the pursuit of self-determination.

Chronicling the multidimensional journey of Inma Zanoguera, her narrative becomes the vehicle of a bigger message : How athletic pursuits provide a platform for subverting entrenched systems of patriarchal, racial and political oppression. As Zanoguera states, "I believe in the power of sports to …

Using Virtual Power Plants To Advance Decarbonization And Energy Equity In California, Cheri Tsoi Yu Tse

Master's Theses

To achieve 60% renewable electricity generation by 2030 and 100% zero-carbon electricity by 2045, California must rapidly electrify and decarbonize all sectors while ensuring grid stability to avoid power outages. Virtual power plants (VPPs) are an emerging solution that can help increase the percentage of renewable energy on California’s electrical grid. This research examined how VPPs can advance decarbonization, grid stability, and energy equity in California. The report begins by clarifying the definitions and components of a VPP, finding the crucial interactions among distributed energy resources (DERs), management systems, and prosumers (energy consumers who both produce and consume electricity). Next, …

Does Higher Socioeconomic Status Associate With Better Mental Health Outcomes Among Primary Caregivers In Rural China?, Wenwen Zhang

Master's Theses

This study explores the intricate relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and the mental health outcomes of primary caregivers in rural China, focusing on the Early Childhood Development (ECD) context in Ya'an. Anchored in a major intervention project launched in 2023, the study critically examines the hypothesis that higher socioeconomic status correlates with lower levels of negative emotions among caregivers.

Utilizing cross-sectional data, the research investigates how educational attainment and household income influence caregivers' mental health, measured through the DASS-21 score in three dimensions: stress, anxiety, and depression. The findings reveal that higher household income and educational levels are significantly associated …

Reimagination And Placemaking In Cape Town: Navigating Apartheid's Legacy Through Community-Focused Placemaking Initiatives, Merhawit Mehzun

Master's Theses

This paper explores the concept of placemaking in Cape Town, South Africa, a city shaped by a complex history of displacement, segregation, and resilience. While urban planning has often prioritizes non-human factors, like economy and infrastructure, placemaking emphasizes the creation of meaningful spaces that foster a sense of "place" for people. Through examining the lived experiences of Capetonians, historical narratives at the District Six Museum, and contemporary efforts in Langa, this research aims to uncover how South Africans are reimagining their urban environment to cultivate authenticity and a sense of belonging. This leads to a larger discussion about gentrification. By …

Online Esl / Efl Instruction For Korean Children Under 7 Years Old: A Curricular Design, Seong Sun Kim

Master's Theses

Early bilingual education is currently implemented in many countries around the world. There has been much research on the effects of early second language learning on children's language development and school performance, and the results are positive.

Koreans focus on learning foreign languages to communicate with other people around the world and approach to lots of information and experience. For Koreans to become fluent English speakers, the best time to learn a foreign language is during early childhood. It is a critical period for mastering pronunciation and developing language skills, making it an ideal time to easily learn a foreign …

Magpie Naheševehe: An Autoethnographic Study Of A Chief’S Son Reclaiming His Language, Quinn A. Magpie

Master's Theses

This paper is an autoethnographic study covering my journey to learn my heritage languages, Cheyenne and Arapaho. The purpose of this study is to give a personalized account of what studying my languages means to my Indigenous identity. Between the months of January and April of 2024, I studied my languages daily and documented the process. I then used Brayboy’s TribalCrit as my theoretical framework to elicit themes from my experience, many of which became a personal reflection on how my languages have become a new part of my life. This study also frames my father’s knowledge as essential towards …

The Plagiarism Question Of Ai: How Teachers Have Responded To Llms In The Classroom, Anthony E. Wolf

Master's Theses

This study is a phenomenology conducted in the Spring of 2024 that interviews seven educators to bridge the gap between speculation and the observable realities of the current applicability of Large Language Models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini. Interviews recorded pedagogical methods, classroom policies concerning LLMs, and various methods used to detect and address the use of LLMs for plagiarism. The findings seem to imply a relationship between the applicability of LLMs to teachers’ pedagogical methods and the policies that teachers implemented. Discussion is made through the lens of critical digital pedagogy, zone of proximal development, and Paperson’s …

Disabilities, Identity, And Success At Law School, Andrew Palos

Master's Theses

West Coast Law School, a pseudonym for a medium sized law school, is the subject of a qualitative case study with the focus of the case study on the experiences of students with disabilities. The case study was conducted in as a single-site setting with only one law school being the subject of the research. Students, staff and faculty were interviewed to offer several perspectives of the law school and the environment it created for students with disabilities. Research questions for this thesis focused on potential obstacles to success for students with disabilities, students with disabilities of color and structural …

Early Career Women Of Color As Social Justice Change Leaders, Amy Anh Hoang Dinh

Master's Theses

The student affairs profession is predominantly female, but women, especially women of color (WOC), are disproportionately in entry-level positions. The majority of student affairs professionals also believe social justice is important but desire more support for their social justice work. This study examined how early career WOC perceived the power dynamics that they encountered in their social justice-oriented organizational change efforts, the strategies and tactics they utilized to lead change efforts, and the aspects of their identities that were the most salient to them during their change efforts. The study design used a phenomenology methodology and an intersectionality theoretical framework. …

Reframing Latine & Indigenous Newcomer Students As Policymakers: Addressing Barriers To Attendance Through Ypar, Amanda Monique Vivanco

Master's Theses

This youth participatory action research investigates the barriers to attendance that recently immigrated Latine/Indigenous-identifying emergent multilingual high school students aged 18- 21 face. This action research aims to restore power to this population by providing the opportunity to participate as co-researchers, sharing their perspectives, opinions, and solutions to the issues that directly affect them. A group of six students from a small continuation school participated as co-researchers in a single session student-led focus group designed to elicit student perspectives, including their attitudes towards school attendance policies, experiences with attendance, and ideas for improvement. The first chapter explains the problem, demonstrating …

Patterns And Potential Mechanisms Of Phenotypic Changes In Urban Small Mammals, Leslie Lopez

Master's Theses

Urbanization is an example of human induced rapid environmental change that can have wide-reaching ecological effects, including habitat destruction, fragmentation, and alteration of local climates. Effects of urbanization have been shown to impact wildlife, as disturbances resulting from urbanization can create novel environments and selective pressures that could lead to changes in morphology, physiology, or both. Small mammals such as rodents are an ecologically important set of wildlife species because they are a key prey item for several predators, hold strong influence over plants as a primary consumer, and some species carry and transmit major human and animal diseases. Previous …

Evaluating The Effect Of Noise On Secure Quantum Networks, Karthick Anbalagan

Master's Theses

This thesis focuses on examining the resilience of secure quantum networks to environmental noise. Specifically, we evaluate the effectiveness of two well-known quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols: the Coherent One-Way (COW) protocol and Kak’s Three-Stage protocol (Kak06). The thesis systematically evaluates these protocols in terms of their efficiency, operational feasibility, and resistance to noise, thereby contributing to the progress of secure quantum communications. Using simulations, this study evaluates the protocols in realistic scenarios that include factors such as noise and decoherence. The results illustrate each protocol’s relative benefits and limitations, highlighting the three-stage protocol’s superior security characteristics, resistance to interference, …

Gangs And Tiktok: A Content Analysis Of Violence Exposures On Social Media, Paige Giddens

Master's Theses

Internet use among individuals involved with gang activity has become increasingly prevalent in the last two decades. This usage goes beyond simply organizing or boasting about criminal activity. Rather, it has become similar to general usage of the internet including posting content that contributes to an overall image of themselves or their gang. Moreover, as social media has become more common among the general population, those involved in gang activity have also followed suit. Previous studies have noted several themes communicated that are in social media posts made by self-proclaimed gang members. These themes include violent imagery, intimidation, revenge, grief, …

See Me Show Me: Black Women Representation In Television Sitcoms, Lauryn Jennings

Master's Theses

Television is a commonplace item within the households of America. It brings the family together as well teaching people about other people. With this Black women have been shown in one-dimensional images that are harmful. Although these stereotypes are old they are still present within modern television sitcoms.

Back To Black: Analyzing The Presence Of White Control Over Black Representations In Media And The Responses Of Black Creators, Serena Smith

Master's Theses

The focus of this thesis largely discusses the perceptions held by White people of Black people and the Black community, and how these discriminatory perceptions have been presented in various forms of consumable media and other societal aspects throughout American history. These racially biased misrepresentations have also negatively affected the progression and internalization of the concept of Black cultural identities for Black people throughout history and how they are able to relate to the rest of American society. I am arguing that contemporary media and films produced by Black creators, such as Cord Jefferson’s 2023 film American Fiction, tend …

Shut Up And Dribble: The Political Contradictions Of Black Masculinity In Sports, Isaiah Rogers

Master's Theses

"Shut Up and Dribble: The Political Contradictions of Black Masculinity in Sports" is a comprehensive analysis of literature and case studies that explore the regulation and representation of the black masculine body within sports. This thesis investigates three primary themes—sport, protest, and black masculinity—and seeks to uncover the evolution of various black masculine figures and their endeavors toward racial inclusivity. By analyzing sports literature, this work examines the experiences of five significant black athletes, including Jack Johnson, Ron Artest, and Colin Kaepernick, to illustrate how sports environments police the black body. Additionally, this thesis emphasizes two archetypes of black masculinity: …