Digital Commons Network^™

Remodeling Recovery : Understanding Social Conditioning And Communication During Adolescent Stages Of Development And How They Correlate With Substance Use Disorders, Douglas Stogner

Theses

This thesis uses a mix method research design to collect data from entry assessments and a survey administered to current residents of the His Way recovery center. The survey was also administered to a control group of participants that did not have substance use disorders (SUD). This study addresses the potential determinants that may be associated with SUD. The data from the entry assessment shows that the preference or drug of choice for clients in His Way recovery is consistent with compatible data collected in the United states. The results of the survey data suggest that people who suffer from …

An Implementation Of The Wireless Body Area Network Of Synchronized Inertial Sensors For Balance Testing, Harsha Ganegoda

Theses

In an aging society with increased lifespans, falls represent a serious risk for older adults. Balance is a key indicator of mobility, stability, and risk of falls. Wireless body area networks (WBAN) provide opportunity for unobtrusive monitoring and assessment of balance impairments and mobility. This thesis presents an implementation of WBAN system for monitoring of balance in older adults in smart homes. The system features two wireless inertial sensor nodes, a smart watch, an always-on home server, and an Android smartphone application. The sensors are placed on the user’s lower back and forehead. We designed and implemented custom smart inertial …

Influences Of Operator Characteristics On Monitoring Behavior And Performance In A Supervisory Control Task, Jacob R. Davis

Theses

This study examined the influences of trust in automation and working memory capacity (WMC) on inattentional blindness (IB) in a supervisory control task. Participants completed 160 trials of a simulated X-ray screening task. Participants visually searched images of baggage for hazardous items and chose whether to clear or search the baggage. Participants were assisted by an 80% reliable automated aid. Participants’ performance was worse on unreliable recommendation trials, indicating participants were biased to agree with the automation. When participants (58.33%) chose to clear the trial which featured the IB stimulus (a bomb), it was interpreted as IB. Results indicated WMC …

The Impact Of Cognitive Style, Affectivity, And Mental Toughness On Non-Clinical Symptoms Of Stress, Anxiety, And Depression In College Students, Cristina M. CabañAs Garcia

Theses

The current study aimed to determine whether cognitive style, positive affect (PA), negative affect (NA), and mental toughness (MT) were distinct but related constructs as well as to study the nature of the relationships between the three constructs, and their impact on non-clinical symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. Participants completed a paper-pencil version of a measure that assessed cognitive style as well as three self-report questionnaires via Qualtrics that assessed positive and negative affect, individual’s MT, and symptoms of non-clinical depression, anxiety, and life stress. Results indicated that MT was positively related to PA and negatively related to NA. …

Testing The Forensic Confirmation Bias : Do Jailhouse Informants Contaminate Evidentiary Independence?, Baylee D. Jenkins

Theses

Research has shown that primary confessions influence forensic evidence examinations such as handwriting evidence. Additionally, previous research on secondary confessions from jailhouse informants has indicated that primary and secondary confessions are equally influential in jury decision making. The current study investigated the relationship between jailhouse informant statements and perceptions of forensic evidence. Participants read a case summary depicting a bank robbery along with confession evidence either from the suspect or a jailhouse informant before examining handwriting evidence. Result indicated that reliable jailhouse informant statements led participants to fall prey to the forensic confirmation bias. Jailhouse informant reliability significantly impacted perceptions …

An Exploration Of The Impact Of Clothing Match And Opportunity To View On Showup Performance, Alexis Marie Le Grand

Theses

Clothing bias occurs during a showup when the clothing worn by the suspect matches the clothing of the culprit during a crime. The present study investigated whether a clothing match enhanced identification performance at varying levels of culprit facial view. Witnesses watched a mock-crime video and then made an identification decision from a showup. The results indicated that a clothing match led to an increase in correct and false identifications of the suspect, regardless of facial view. However, the presence of a clothing match did not enhance discriminability. Additionally, there was not a match by facial view interaction. Furthermore, there …

Teasing Apart The Roles Of Fluency And Memory Beliefs In The Self-Regulated Learning Behaviors Of Visually-Impaired And Unimpaired Participants, Payne A. Winston-Lindeboom

Theses

Participants give higher judgments of learning to words presented in large font compared to those in small font despite memory performance not differing. One argument is large fonts seem more fluent than small. Another suggests participants have memory beliefs that large fonts will be more memorable. The present study sought to tease apart these arguments using vision impairment. We were also interested if self-regulated learning habits of these individuals differ. Both vision-impaired and unimpaired participants studied word pairs presented in both fonts. After studying the word pairs, participants were asked to select up to half of the word pairs they …

The Role Of Jailhouse Informant Incentive Size And Goal Attainment On Jury Decision-Making, Alexa Mecikalski

Theses

The present study examined whether mock jurors would question the reliability of a jailhouse informant witness as he admits to receiving different incentive sizes as well as if he admits to attaining the goal of prison release. Participants read a brief trial summary in which the jailhouse informant claimed to be receiving either a 90%, 50%, 25%, or 0% sentence reduction as an incentive for testifying. Additionally, the jailhouse informant also testified that he would either be released from prison or would remain in prison following his testimony. The results exhibited consistent verdict decisions and ratings of the jailhouse informant’s …

Using Digital Health Technology To Optimise Older People’S Pain Self-Management Capabilities: A Mixed Methods Study (The Digitech Pain Project), Priyanka Bhattarai

Theses

Background

Arthritic pain is a major cause of illness and disability among older people. As the use of smartphones and apps increases in the lives of older people, there is an opportunity to explore the role of these apps in helping older people better manage their arthritic pain.

Aim

To explore the feasibility and acceptability of older people using an arthritic pain selfmanagement app to improve their pain symptoms.

Methods

A parallel convergent, mixed methods design underpinned by Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory and the Technology Acceptance Model 2; comprising of the following five studies:

(i) Study 1a: an integrative review;

(ii) …

Motor Planning In Children With And Without Developmental Coordination Disorder: Behavioural And Neurological Evidence, Ranila Bhoyroo

Theses

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that is characterised by an inability to acquire and execute well-coordinated movements at an age appropriate level (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Converging evidence suggests that children with DCD experience motor planning difficulties compared to typically developing children; however, these difficulties may be task dependent. To our knowledge, the underlying nature of this deficit as well as the task parameters that might affect motor planning are not well established. Also, while it has been reported that alterations in areas of the frontal and parietal lobe may underlie poor motor planning in this population, …

The Barren Bear Fruit: Towards A Theology Of Marital Fruitfulness For Sterile Catholic Couples In Light Of Hans Urs Von Balthasar’S Theology Of Fruitfulness, Briony Mowbray

Theses

It is estimated that between 4.0% and 11.2% of married Catholic couples remain undesirably childless after exhausting licit medical treatments for their infertility. Yet, a critical appraisal of the documents of the Magisterium highlights an absence of substantial and constructive dialogue about fruitfulness for sterile Catholic couples. This thesis draws upon the insights of Hans Urs von Balthasar in order to construct a preliminary theology of marital fruitfulness that is specifically applicable to Christian couples unable to have biological children. Following the aforementioned appraisal of relevant Magisterial documents, this thesis is divided into two further sections. In the first section, …

From Valuable Resource To Valued Person: Ontologies Of Human Resource Management, Gregory M. Latemore

Theses

This thesis examines the conceptualisations of those who do the work of organisations as evidenced in human resource management (HRM) scholarship. It contrasts three perspectives in the HRM discourse: strategic, humanistic and personalistic, and distinguishes the world-views and philosophies within them. The four papers in the thesis address these perspectives and indicate implications for HRM theory, research and practice.

The primary research question is ‘how is the person conceptualised in the HRM discourse?’ which is answered by affirming that such conceptualisation has varied throughout the HRM tradition wherein the ‘human’ in HRM is regarded as both a valuable resource and …

Study Of The Health Needs Of Older Women Experiencing Homelessness In The Perth Metropolitan Area, Gloria Sutherland

Theses

Women aged over 50 years represent the most rapidly growing cohort of the Australian homeless population. Despite an increasing awareness of older Australian women being at risk of homelessness, little is known of how their health contributes to, and changes due to their homelessness. Drawing on the principles of the World Health Organisation’s social determinants of health, this study sought to investigate the personal life circumstances of older homeless women who live in the Perth metropolitan area, their healthcare needs and to identify any barriers to their accessing healthcare.

The study used a convergent mixed methods approach using quantitative and …

Is Liberal Democracy A Contradiction?: A Study Of Political Participation And Inequality In Australia During The 1960s And 1970s, Daniel A. Elias

Theses

The central concern of this thesis is the disconnect between the premise of democracy and economic realities. The first section of the thesis examines the essential components of a democratic political system by drawing upon political theorists of the past and present. From Aristotle to Robert Dahl the thesis gains an understanding of what democracy is, by identifying and isolating its essential mechanisms. The following section situates liberalism and its origins. Such a history is critical for within liberalism is the sum of many social norms, philosophies, laws, and culture in Australia. Combining political theory and the historical context of …

Veteran Paramedics’ Experience Of Managing Work-Related Trauma: A Qualitative Study, Ryan D. Jenkins

Theses

Paramedics throughout the world are trained to competently treat the physical injuries of patients requiring pre-hospital emergency medical care. The nature of this work exposes them to highly traumatic and often life threatening situations. As a result of working with this stress and trauma, they themselves can experience emotional, psychological, and physical trauma (Gayton & Lovell, 2012). Research suggests that they receive little education and training about how to effectively manage this trauma (Gayton & Lovelle, 2012) and that many paramedics experience symptoms of Burnout, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), or Depression (Beaton, 2006; Millar, 2004; Shakespeare-Finch, 2006). The impact of …

A Western Australian Story: A Mixed Method Study Exploring Nutrition Knowledge, Food Intake, Influences On Food Choice, Body Image And Eating Attitudes Of University Students, Michelle Lambert

Theses

Emerging adults are fast gaining recognition as an important target group for health promotion as previous research indicates very few are meeting dietary guidelines, often consuming foods that have increased saturated fats, sugar and sodium. These eating patterns place this group at higher risk of developing chronic illnesses such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Understanding how and why these eating patterns develop is important to help establish healthy eating behaviours and greater compliance to Australian Dietary Guidelines – Recommended Daily Serves (ADG-RDS) for emerging adults. International research has focused on eating habits, weight gain patterns and possible influences …

An Examination Of Pain Education Of Medical Students In Australia And New Zealand, Elspeth Shipton

Theses

Background: Unrelieved pain is a significant public health challenge in Australia and New Zealand. Medical practitioners play an essential role in the management of acute, cancer and chronic non-cancer pain.

Aim: This thesis aimed to examine the delivery of pain education at medical schools in Australia and New Zealand, and to determine how effectively it equips medical students with pain medicine competencies required for internship.

Methods: An explanatory sequential mixed methods approach was used. Quantitative studies focused on gathering information regarding the pain-related content of medical curricula of all medical schools; and on testing pain medicine competencies of final-year medical …

Moral Competence In Nursing: An Exploration Of The Giving Voice To Values Curriculum, Catherine Costa

Theses

The development of moral competence is central to the profession of nursing and its practice. Nurses engage in moral decision making that impacts the health of people, families, and communities. It is important, then, to ensure that nursing graduates possess the necessary moral development for engaging in professional practice. To this end, research was conducted, the principle premise of which was to explore the use of the introduction of the Giving Voice to Values curriculum (Gentile, 2010) and its contribution to the development of moral competence in nursing. The Giving Voice to Values curriculum is a values-based methodology enabling students …

Perspectives Of Year 12 Students From Five Catholic Secondary Schools In Western Australia Towards Teaching As A Career, Lucie M. Mccrory

Theses

The purpose of this research was to review the ways in which Year 12 Catholic school students perceive teaching as a career and to explore the people, contexts and factors that have influenced these perspectives. Schools are being increasingly challenged to revisit the role of the educator in today’s rapidly changing educational landscape. Best practice teaching and learning is at the forefront of this consideration. Attracting talented and committed students to the teaching profession is crucial if schools are going to play a part in adequately teaching and preparing future generations for society (Weldon, 2015). It follows therefore that both …

Identifying And Implementing The Theology Of The Domestic Church, Mishel Stefanac

Theses

This project explores the development of the theology of the domestic church and how it can be implemented in Catholic families. It investigates the origin of the phrase domestic church, traces its development over centuries, and considers the implications this has on the Church and families. The overall objective of this project is to inquire into the significance of this term and identify the principles that ought to be incorporated in a practical resource for families.

The project begins with a comprehensive analysis of the origins of the term domestic church, and how it developed over time. It investigates why …

Effect Of Mptp On Α-Synuclein Spreading, Accumulation And Toxicity In Mice With Intrastriatal Innoculation Of Human Α-Synuclein Preformed Fibril, Madiha Mohieldin Merghani

Theses

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common progressive neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by abnormal accumulation of interneuronal inclusions of α-synuclein (α-syn) known as Lewy bodies (LBs) and Lewy neurites (LNs), and significant loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) region of the brain. Recent evidence suggests that intrastriatal inoculation of α-syn Preformed Fibril (PFF) into mice induces PD-like LBs and LNs pathology formed by aggregated α-syn in anatomically interconnected brain regions which needs several months of incubation to develop the pathology. In the present study, we have evaluated the effect of different doses of 1-methyl, 4-phenyl, …

Narratives Of Creativity Among Social Care Educators In Irish Higher Education, Louisa Goss

Theses

Research on creativity in the delivery of social care highlights growing evidence of its importance for the wellbeing and quality of life of those in receipt of care, as well as benefits for the workforce. However, what is less well understood and overlooked in the literature is how creativity is conceptualised and operationalised in practice and education. This thesis attends to this gap in research from the perspective of social care educators. With the aim of deepening understanding of higher education teachers’ construction of creativity, the study explores small stories about creativity from six educators teaching into an undergraduate degree …

Investigation Of Consumer Attitudes Towards Emerging Novel Food Processing Technologies In The Republic Of Ireland, Emine Berna Cibik

Theses

Food industry and governmental organisations are continuously working on innovative food processing technologies in order to produce safe foods without causing undesirable changes in the food products. Food is a very sensitive area so consumers are conservative in accepting food products produced from novel technologies compared to other products. Food is basic needs of humans and it is becoming more and more globalized recently, but public perceptions are not same in different countries. The aim of this research was to investigate consumer attitudes toward novel food processing technologies in Republic of Ireland. A quantitative research was conducted and data was …

Social Media Factors That Influence E-Commerce Buyer Behavior Of Millennials And Post-Millennials, Michele Pomponio

Theses

This research investigated the social media factors that influence the e-Commerce buyer behavior of Millennials and Post-Millennials. In today’s social media savvy environment, it is becoming increasingly important for companies to incorporate effective social media marketing into their business strategies. Further, companies should understand what is most important to customers while engaging on social media platforms. As a result, companies will need to know how to best utilize social media as a tool for increasing sales. This research included a survey that was sent to all undergraduate and graduate students in the College of Art and Design at the Rochester …

The Use Of Social Media To Advance Sports Marketing: The Atlantic Hockey Conference, Erin Claybaugh

Theses

Social media has rapidly changed the world of communications, becoming a popular area of interest to many researchers. Sports marketing has also drastically developed and gained recognition within academia. This project evaluated the use of social media by Atlantic Hockey teams through an investigation of their social media strategies and the effectiveness of their channels. With only a small focus on the Atlantic hockey conference and the widespread growth of college hockey nationally over the years, this study was proposed out of personal interest and found necessary. Research was conducted through a series of interviews with social media coordinators of …

Physical Activity In Aging: Biological Outcomes, Functional Autonomy, And Policy Implications, Nathan Albert Schuler

Theses

A 2016 study concluded that the elderly spend 2.5 times the national average on health services (De Nardi 2016). Despite consisting of only 14 percent of the United States population, the elderly accounted for 34 percent of all medical spending, and accounted for 73 percent of all deaths (De Nardi 2016). In addition, current projections estimate that with the aging of the baby boomer generation, the percentage of the population that is older than 65 will swell to approximately 20 percent of the population by 2030 (Ortman 2014). If the medical spending holds, this will coincide with massive increases in …

Evaluating Information Flow In Medication Management Process In Australian Acute Care Facilities: A Multi-Professional Perspective, Seyi Lagoke

Theses

Over the years, various interventions have been introduced to improve the medication management process. While these interventions have addressed some aspects predisposing the process to inefficiencies, significant gaps are still prevalent across the process. Studies have suggested that the goal of optimal medication therapy is achievable when information flow integrates across the various medication management process phases, stakeholders and departments involved as the patient moves through the process. To provide a cross-sectional view of the process, this study utilised a systemic philosophy to evaluate the information flow integration across the process.

The research approach adopted for this study takes a …

Dental Professionals Occupational Noise Exposure And Its Auditory And Non-Auditory Effects, Alexis Frees

Theses

The purpose of this study was to assess noise exposure and its auditory and non-auditory effects on workers in five clinical departments in the School of Dental Medicine at Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences Campus in Newark, New Jersey. The study included environmental noise level measurement, dental instrument sound level measurement, personal noise dosimetry and a questionnaire survey to assess non-auditory effects. Octave band analysis of environmental noise levels showed that they are slightly above the standard noise criteria for clinics, and measurements from six dental instruments confirm that they contribute higher sound pressure levels at the frequencies of 1000, 2000, …

Molly, Allison Zelle

Theses

“Molly” is a stop-motion animated graduate thesis short film completed at Rochester Institute of Technology’s School of Film and Animation and screened in May of 2019.

The film tells a fictional story about a young boy named Elliott whose life has changed both very drastically and very quickly. In what seems like an instant, he loses both his mother and his childhood home and finds himself standing, overwhelmed, in the street in front of his new residence as his life is seemingly being unpacked from the back of a moving truck. He is shell-shocked and feels profoundly alone but soon …

Funsigns - An Interactive Educational Tool To Learn Sign Language, Shiqi Fang

Theses

This thesis aims to provide an educational and interactive tool where deaf children and their hearing parents can learn, bond, enjoy and interact with each other.

More than 90% of children which severe to profound hearing losses are born to normally hearing families. When parents are told that their child is deaf, their dreams are crushed and a grief response may be triggered (Weaver, K. A., & Starner, T, 2011). Due to this lack of knowledge when faced with a deaf family member for the first time, parents tend to base their perceptions on obsolete stereotypes which can greatly affect …