Digital Commons Network^™

Carrot Or Stick: Nudging Consumers Towards Healthier Choices Through Customized Price Incentives, Xintong Guan

Open Access Dissertations

In a market where consumers are increasingly concerned with maintaining a healthy diet and demand healthier foods, the role of retail grocery stores has been highlighted, as they exert a powerful influence on food choices. To increase more healthful food purchases, some food retailers have implemented marketing efforts to influence consumer food decision-making. However, due to the mixed findings on the effect of existing marketing interventions on improving purchasing of healthier foods, it is unclear which interventions work best to shift purchasing and what benefits they can bring to the retailer.

A promising approach to nudge healthy purchases with behavioral …

Fantasizing Reproduction: The Biologization Of The Desire For Progress In Victorian Literature, Xinqiang Chang

Open Access Dissertations

The preoccupation with reproduction in Victorian literature has, by and large, received little critical attention. This dissertation seeks to contribute to Victorian scholarship and examines the representations of reproduction in Victorian literature in relation to the contemporaneous desire for progress. Adopting a historiographical approach, this dissertation analyzes five Victorian novels: Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, George Eliot’s Middlemarch, George Du Maurier’s Trilby, Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure, and Sarah Grand’s The Heavenly Twins. In this dissertation, I demonstrate the different ways in which these Victorian novelists explored, accommodated, and concretized the Victorian desire for and pursuit …

Social Justice And Evolutionary Biology: A Natural Fit, David I. Upegui

Open Access Dissertations

This dissertation is an extended prescription for the inclusion of social justice in high school biology (HSB) curricula. Chapter 1 is context: a review of social injustice (mainly racism) in the US, and the specious scientific justifications for it. Chapter 2 explores how three veteran teachers introduce social justice in HSB classes. A case-study, semi-constructed interview-based approach is used. Chapter 3, the culmination of these ideas, adduces a practical curriculum module that provides the theory, lessons and activities for HSB student exploration the inferior science used to sustain racial inequities. The dissertation thus reviews the moral imperatives for introducing social …

Longitudinal Decision-Making In A Transtheoretical Model For Pursuing Living Donor Kidney Transplant, Zoe Mushkat

Open Access Dissertations

The transtheoretical model (TTM) is a comprehensive theory of health behavior change that has informed a wide range of health promotion interventions. Despite substantial empirical support for the TTM, our understanding of the mechanisms of behavior change is primarily guided by cross-sectional research. Considerably fewer studies have examined longitudinal relationships between TTM constructs with methods comparable to cross-sectional models. The overarching goal of the present study was to improve our understanding of longitudinal relationships between Stage of Change, Decisional Balance, and Self-Efficacy. Kidney transplant decision-making was used to exemplify longitudinal patterns through secondary data from the trial Your Path to …

Non-Market Valuation Of Utility-Scale Solar Arrays, Vasundhara Gaur

Open Access Dissertations

In this dissertation, I investigate preferences for solar energy and solar siting decisions in the states of Rhode Island (RI) and Massachusetts (MA). There is broad support for solar energy in the United States, but the construction of utility-scale (1 megawatt capacity and above) installations has become controversial in recent years because of the potential local land use externalities that can result. Despite the vast literature on the impacts of various energy-producing infrastructures on areas in their vicinity, surprisingly little research exists on the externalities associated with utility-scale solar arrays within the United States. Estimating the value that people place …

Gatekeepers And Access Agents: How Admissions Officers Understand Their Roles In Shaping College Access In The 21st Century Market For Higher Education, Brian Stevens

Open Access Dissertations

Many scholars (Cox, 2016; Harklau & McClanahan, 2012; Niemann & Maruyama, 2005; Solórzano, 2005) have explored the causes of opportunity gaps in higher education. Those studies have looked at the various impediments to accessing higher education that have led to the persistence of gaps in college attendance rates, but few have specifically explored the complex relationship between college admissions officers and institutional admissions policies. This study will contribute to literature related to higher education access by examining the roles of admissions officers and adding their perspectives to a body of work where their voices have been largely absent. Grounded in …

Student Retention: Bridging Theory, Research, Practice & Policy, Corinne M. Kulesh

Open Access Dissertations

Institutions of higher education are under a lot of pressure to increase student retention. The focus on student retention supports many goals relating to student success, institutional reputation, rankings, recruitment, performance-based funding, and continued viability. Students, on the other hand, are not so concerned with being retained, but rather whether their experience makes them want to persist toward graduating with a degree at that institution. Additionally, historically-underrepresented students, such as first-generation students and students with low socioeconomic status (SES), are over-represented in the number of students who do not persist, perpetuating achievement and SES gaps. Although institutions tend to be …

Preservice Teachers’ Knowledge, Attitudes, And Comfort Towards Lgbtq+ Students, Crassandra Mandojana-Ducot

Open Access Dissertations

In school settings, teachers are on the front lines for supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) adolescents and have direct contact with students daily. Previous research establishes that LGBTQ+ adolescents are at a higher rate of experiencing mental health disorders compared to their cisgender and heterosexual peers due to high social stress from discrimination and bullying. The current study expanded upon previous literature by examining preservice teachers’ knowledge, attitudes, and comfort towards LGBTQ+ students, the relationship between these factors, and teachers’ intention to engage in school-based LGBTQ+ advocacy. Participants were 168 undergraduate and graduate level preservice teachers currently …

A Mixed Methods Study Of Communication Among Ten Men Members And Community Men, Valerie Ryan

Open Access Dissertations

Ten Men is a primary prevention strategy, which involves a group of prominent men in the community who want to change the social norms around masculinity in Rhode Island and educate other men on the link between toxic masculinity and intimate partner violence (IPV). One way to accomplish this goal of social norms change is by having the Ten Men members, both current and alumni, communicate with men in their local communities about these topics. I evaluated the effectiveness of men’s communication utilizing a mixed methods approach, which incorporated both causal methods applied to network analysis (quantitative) and focus groups …

The Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation Training Program: Outcomes For High School Students’ Cultural, Social, And Emotional Learning, Khadijah Nelly Cyril

Open Access Dissertations

Violence refers to any act or behavior that causes harm (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2018), and is considered a serious public health issue. Violence puts a burden on individuals, families, and communities, which in turn cause physical and psychological damage. Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation Program (Kingian Nonviolence) is an introductory program that serves to address the root causal conditions of violence within oneself and the greater community. Kingian Nonviolence operates on the principle that nonviolence is the only antidote for violence. Core concepts discussed in Kingian Nonviolence include: violence, nonviolence versus non(-hyphen)violence, compassion, values, conflict, conflict resolution, …

The Role Of Kindergarten Vocabulary Knowledge And Language Status On Early Reading Comprehension, Jennifer Cruz

Open Access Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of receptive vocabulary knowledge on first and second grade reading comprehension for 340 Kindergarten Dual Language Learners (DLLs) and monolingual students. An additional purpose of the study was to examine the effect of a Tier 2 vocabulary intervention on students’ reading comprehension abilities. Linear regression analyses found statistically significant interactions between initial vocabulary knowledge and DLL status, as well as initial vocabulary knowledge and intervention treatment condition on first grade reading comprehension. Vocabulary at the end of Kindergarten and the change in vocabulary scores also significantly predicted first grade comprehension. …

The Impact Of A Curricular Change On Undergraduate Human Anatomy And Physiology Students’ Academic Behavior And Performance, Jessica A. Adams

Open Access Dissertations

This dissertation explores learning in context. Undergraduate introductory human anatomy and human physiology courses are either taught as discipline-specific or integrated anatomy and physiology (A&P) sequences. These courses are critically important to future health care professionals yet a consensus is lacking on the optimal course approach. Our institution underwent a curricular revision to change pedagogical methodologies from discipline-specific human anatomy and human physiology to an integrated A&P I and II sequence. Thus, providing a unique opportunity to study the potential impact of contextual learning. Specifically, over three years the effects integrating physiological concepts had on anatomy education were explored as …

Cluster Profiles Of The Drinking Motives In A Sample Of Firefighters And Emts, Joshua A. Muniz

Open Access Dissertations

Despite the extensive literature that exists on alcohol use, misuse, and drinking to cope, a drinking culture remains prevalent in occupations that experience high volumes of induced occupational stress and exposure to trauma. To our knowledge, patterns of alcohol use motives have never been characterized in a firefighter/emergency medical technician (FF/EMT) sample, nor have they been evaluated in the context of other relevant factors. The current study investigated the Drinking Motives Questionnaire-revised (DMQ-r) within a sample of FF/EMT who reported that they currently drink alcohol (N=183). This study sought to confirm the factor structure of the DMQ-r, identify empirically derived …

The Relationships Between Racial Microaggressions Experiences, Coping With Discrimination Strategies, And The Psychological Well-Being Among Asian American College Students, Richard Song

Open Access Dissertations

Research on Asian American college students’ experiences with racial ethnic microaggressions and their coping strategies is scant. The present study examined how Asian American college students (N = 222) experienced racial ethnic microaggressions, identified engagement or disengagement strategies for coping with discrimination, and if the coping strategies affect students’ psychological well-being. Along with providing demographic information, participants completed three instruments, the Racial Ethnic Microaggressions Scale (REMS: Nadal, 2011), the Coping with Discrimination Scale (CDS: Wei, Alvarez, Hu, Russell, & Bonett, 2010), and the Scales of Psychological Well-Being (SPWB: Ryff, 1989). Participants also provided responses to two open-ended questions about how …

Structured, Individualized, Video-Based Coaching To Improve Technical Skill Acquisition, Kenneth A. Lynch Jr.

Open Access Dissertations

In the current era of a reduced hourly workweek and competency-based curriculum, it is becoming increasingly clear that the cognitive apprenticeship model of training, which dominated the surgical discipline for well over a century, may no longer be the single best strategy to train the surgeons of today. There needs to be a multifaceted approach to surgical residency training, especially with regards to improving technical skill acquisition. Video-based-coaching is quickly being adapted for use in many training programs due to its low cost and broad range of applications including self-assessment, operative evaluations, and bench model training. The challenge for most …

Outcomes And Predictors Of Prescription Stimulant Misuse In College Students With And Without Adhd, Alyssa Francis

Open Access Dissertations

In recent years, rates of prescription stimulant misuse have increased substantially among young adults ages 18-25 (Chen et al., 2016). Although research exploring correlates of prescription stimulant misuse has increased in recent years, several gaps in the literature remain. With preliminary studies that suggest students with ADHD may be more likely to misuse their stimulant medication than their non-ADHD peers (Janusis & Weyandt, 2010), research is needed to further explore this topic as well as possible rates, predictors, and outcomes of prescription stimulant misuse among college students with and without ADHD. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to …

Nurses’ Involvement In End Of Life Communication And Care Practices In Icus, Annette Griffin

Open Access Dissertations

Patients with end-stage and life-threatening diseases are frequently admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). In fact, the ICU is the place of death for one in five patients in the United States due to the acuity of this population. Despite the high frequency of death in ICUs, evidence suggests that there is a need to improve end-of-life care (EOLC) for these patients.

Additionally, advancing medical technologies have contributed to the rescue culture of ICUs and in some cases has increased the use of aggressive and ineffective life-support therapies. Since critically ill patients are often too ill to participate in …

Reorienting The Female Gothic: Curiosity And The Pursuit Of Knowledge, Jenna Guitar

Open Access Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the mode of the Female Gothic primarily by examining how texts utilize the role of curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge, paying close attention to how female characters employ these attributes. Existing criticism is vital to understanding the Female Gothic and in presenting the genealogy of feminist literary criticism, and yet I argue, this body of criticism often produces elements of essentialism. In an attempt to avoid and expose the biases that essentialism produces, I draw from Sara Ahmed’s theory of queer phenomenology to investigate the connections between the way that women pursue and circulate knowledge through …

Female Comic Grotesque Characters In Victorian Novels: Investigating The Possibilities Of Liminality, Barbara A. Farnworth

Open Access Dissertations

Female comic authors during the nineteenth century have received little attention from twentieth and twenty-first century literary critics. As Regina Barreca observes, major studies of the role of comedy in British literature do not deal with women writers (Barrecca 1988 11). Several anthologies which focus on humor in nineteenth-century literature begin with Jane Austen and then ignore every other female comedic writer. Similarly, studies of the comic grotesque in nineteenth century literature focus primarily on how it is employed by male authors such as Charles Dickens, William Thackeray and Anthony Trollope. My dissertation will address this imbalance by examining the …

Exploring The Greek-Letter Organization Experience At Primarily Commuter Public Colleges And Universities: A Phenomenological Study, Michael D. Giacalone

Open Access Dissertations

Higher education institutions are typically designed for residential students (Attewell & Lavin, 2012; Jacoby, 2015), even though the majority of students at four-year colleges and universities commute to their campuses (Horn & Nevill, 2006). One part of the higher education structure is the co-curricular experience, and is a way for students to develop a sense of belonging on campus, which leads to positive outcomes like self-actualization and persistence (Strayhorn, 2012, 2019). Greek-letter organizations are one aspect of the co-curricular experience, yet are also typically designed with residential students in mind. These organizations, however, have been present at primarily commuter institutions …

Impact Of Brand Recognition In Psychological Test Selection: Identification And Corrective Procedure, Aaron M. Baker

Open Access Dissertations

The accuracy of psychological assessment may be determined largely by the quality of the test(s) selected; however, in clinical practice, tests may be selected impressionistically, and without sufficient consideration of test validity. Appreciating that not only psychometric standing, but also pragmatic considerations may be of import in test selection may help explain why surveys of test usage have not necessarily shown robust associations between frequency of test use and psychometric quality. The primary goal of this dissertation was to examine whether brand recognition (BR; presence/absence of the name of a well-known test) may sometimes diminish attention to psychometric qualities, and …

Ratings Of Consent In Lesbian, Gay, And Heterosexual Sexual Assault Situations, Katelyn T. Kirk-Provencher

Open Access Dissertations

Introduction: Rates of sexual violence on college campuses are highest among individuals who identify as sexual minorities. However, bystander intervention programs on campuses (programs aimed at targeting individuals’ beliefs, attitudes, and knowledge about sexual violence to increase engagement in intervention behaviors) are not inclusive of sexual minority experiences. That is, bystander intervention programs that have been evaluated for efficacy appear not to include sexual violence experiences of sexual minorities nor are program outcomes assessed among sexual minority populations. This lack of inclusivity is important as it is likely that many of the barriers to bystander intervention (e.g., situational or environmental …

New Insights Into Modeling Choice Behavior Under Uncertainty, Priya Sara Behanan

Open Access Dissertations

This dissertation explores alternative ways to understand choice preferences and explain data better. Understanding choice behavior has important policy implications. Choices are dependent on numerous factors, some of which are uncertain and unobservable to the researcher. To model choice behavior under uncertainty, researchers make several assumptions regarding individuals’ cognitive thought processes, the functional form of utility, and which behavioral anomalies to incorporate.

In this research, the choice behavior of three distinct sets of stakeholders is investigated. The first chapter examines location choices made by recreational fishermen using an alternative model called the Case-Based Decision Theory (CBDT). This model captures the …

Multicultural Research In Forensic Psychology: Where Are We Now?, Rebecca J. Aguiar

Open Access Dissertations

Introduction: Forensic psychology is one of the fastest-growing areas in psychology. Over the past few decades, forensic psychology research has had significant impact on legal outcomes and clinical practice. Further, the population served by forensic psychologists has become increasingly diverse. However, past reviews of forensic psychology research indicates cultural factors are not always prominent variables of interest. Accordingly, this study examined how cultural variables are captured within forensic psychology research, and identified the proportion of articles in major forensic psychology journals focused on multicultural research. This study aimed to extend previous work by examining the incorporation of cultural variables capturing …

Black Parent-Adolescent Conversations About Sex: A Mixed-Methods Study Of Parent Perspectives, Teressa Davis

Open Access Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to explore parental attitudes about adolescent sexual behavior among middle-income Black families. This study also examined the interactions between religion, parental attitudes about adolescent sexual behavior, and the frequency/quality of conversations regarding sexual topics. A total of 108 participants completed a survey via Qualtrics that examined these topics. Results found that parents generally have negative attitudes about adolescent sexual behavior. It was also found that parents discussed some topics more frequently than others and the quality of these conversations was neither overly negative nor positive. Results of stepwise multiple regression analyses indicated spirituality …

Individual Differences Among Snapchat Users: Uses And Motivations, Nicole Baker

Open Access Dissertations

Social media has become a routine part of daily life, changing the ways people interact with one another. Prior research on social media in the field of psychology and communications has focused on the use of Facebook and Instagram, but little has focused on Snapchat, despite its fast growth and increasing popularity (Grieve, 2017). Thus, the current study examined how and why individuals use Snapchat. Undergraduate students (N=210) at the University of Rhode Island were recruited and asked to complete online surveys. Surveys examined background information, Snapchat activities and motives for use, as well as psychological factors like body image, …

Beyond The Negative Lens: A Strength-Based Approach To Understanding Sexual Minority Women’S Health, Angela Darosh

Open Access Dissertations

Introduction: It is well-documented that, compared to their heterosexual counterparts, sexual minority women (SMW) are at an increased risk for a variety of negative mental health outcomes, including depression, non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. According to the minority stress model, lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals are at an increased risk for adverse health outcomes because they experience excess stress as a result of belonging to a stigmatized group. In particular, sexual minority stress may be mediated by LGB-specific stressors including discrimination and victimization as a result of one’s sexual orientation, internalized homophobia, and concealment. The majority …

Between Siblings: How The Sibling Metaphor Reimagines Affective Entanglements In The Victorian Novel, Beth Leonardo Silva

Open Access Dissertations

Throughout the long nineteenth century, characters in novels are often described as being like siblings to other characters. Frequently, such sibling-like characters end up being the protagonist’s most desirable marriage partner. While older literary criticism assumed that such coding was meant to invoke themes of incest, more recent scholarship has begun to investigate how such characters can inform our understanding of the dramatic historical shifts in family structure and alliance (from the biological to the conjugal), as well as changes in what motivated and validated marriages. In either case, the scholarship assumes that the reference to siblinghood places unrelated characters …

Exploring Causal Mechanisms Between Behavior And Cognition In A Theory-Based Alcohol Intervention, Sara Balestrieri

Open Access Dissertations

While the efficacy of Transtheoretical Model (TTM)-based interventions has been demonstrated time and time again, little has been done to understand the causal mechanisms responsible for the change resulting from exposure to a TTM-based intervention. The proposed study is to leverage sophisticated statistical techniques to examine the causal relationship among TTM constructs to better understand the direction of influence TTM-based interventions have. To accomplish this, a secondary data analysis using longitudinal data collected during a trial evaluating the efficacy of a TTM-based alcohol intervention targeting adults whose drinking exceeds national recommended guidelines was completed.

This study used a 2 x …

College Student Engagement In Coursework: Investigating Assessment Scaling And Feedback Utility, Bonita S. Basnyat

Open Access Dissertations

Student engagement is a multifaceted construct in the field of education. Despite the immense attention and financial investment given to student engagement and dropout prevention programs at colleges, attrition rates have not improved in over two decades (Caruth, 2018). In addition, there has been little research on providing feedback to college students on self-improvement strategies to increase their engagement in college. Information collected from this study evaluates the extent to which student classroom engagement, as measured by the modified Student Course Engagement Questionnaire (SCEQ-M) varies within subcategories of measured engagement and across different subgroups of students (i.e., variability by gender, …