Digital Commons Network^™

Obstacles And Supports As Experienced By Foster Youth In Higher Education: Ventura County Community College District, Breanna Webb

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological research study assesses the obstacles faced by foster youth and the support available to them while attending the Ventura County Community College District. As it currently stands, about four and a half percent of foster youth in the United States go on to earn a college degree. Very little research has been done to explore the effectiveness and outcomes of the support offered to foster youth. Data for this research study was collected using the General Self-efficacy scale and structured interviews. Each of the ten participants was given a demographics survey and a Self-Efficacy scale survey and …

Mapping Reputational Shifts: Lessons From U.S. Professional Sports Communities During The Black Lives Matter Social Crisis, Dean Austin Hess Iii

Theses and Dissertations

From 2013 through 2024, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) social crisis had profound impacts on major U.S. professional sports communities. Prior crisis research has concentrated on the BLM-related player protests in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Football League (NFL) over momentary periods of upheaval. Based on a review of crisis response and communication literature and its application to sports, this research offers a previously missing longitudinal account of how major professional sports communities (i.e., NBA, NFL, MLB, MLS, NHL, and NASCAR) responded to the BLM social crisis. It aims to offer a better understanding of community group …

Group Flow Perceptions And Dynamics As Compared To Taxonomy And Integrative Group Flow Theory, Karen E. Wirick

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study investigated group flow through a team-building exercise with 18 professionals, examining participants’ and an observer’s perceptions of flow in social contexts. Analysis of interviews and observer notes identified eight themes: Sensory Network of Shared Experience, Adaptive Group Identity and Performance, Goal-Skill-Motivation Alignment, Essential Social Dynamics, Calm Intensity, Synchrony and Engagement Patterns, Spontaneous Collective Celebration, and Observer Integration. These themes revealed that flow in groups manifests as dynamic forces in constant motion. When compared to an emergent Taxonomy and the Integrative Group Flow Theory (IGFT), findings aligned more closely with IGFT's conceptualization of flow as a holistic balancing …

Exploring The Perceptions And Experiences Of School Building Leaders At Public Charter Schools And The Impact They Have On The Provision Of Physical Education In Charter School Settings, Nathaniel Bouie Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenology study aimed to explore the perceptions of school principals regarding physical education (PE) and its impact on school programming. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten school principals in an urban charter school district in the United States. The interviews were transcribed, and data were analyzed using the phenomenological approach under the lens of teacher socialization.

The findings of the study revealed that physical education was perceived as an inferior subject compared to core subjects such as mathematics, science, and language arts. School leaders viewed PE as less important than other subjects and often reduced its instructional time …

Exploring The Perception And Experiences Of California Female Superintendents, Stacey Ridgeway

Theses and Dissertations

When examining the modern-day gender distribution of the American K-12 public school district superintendent role, women remain underrepresented at 26.7% (Tienken, 2021). Based on the model of superintendents ascending from the teacher and principal workforce, the educational pipeline is robust, with 77% female teachers and 56% female principals (Irwin et al., 2023; National Center for Education Statistics, 2023). Factors preventing a higher percentage of female teachers from attaining the superintendency are unknown, and there is a need for a better understanding of the barriers female educators face as aspiring superintendents. California is second in the U.S. for female superintendent representation, …

Corporate Soft Power Strategy In Shaping Global Influence: A Case Study Of Microsoft, Qiang Qiang

Theses and Dissertations

Soft power, defined as the ability to attract and persuade through appeal and influence rather than coercion, has emerged as a critical component in the arsenal of global corporations navigating the complexities of the interconnected world. This study, using Microsoft as a case, delves into the realm of soft power in global corporations. Drawing upon qualitative methodology, this study aims to uncover the nuanced factors contributing to global corporation soft power prowess. Key areas of investigation include organizational culture and communication, corporate branding, corporate social responsibility, emerging technological applications, global branding strategies, and leadership approaches. Through an analysis of these …

Refining Albert O. Hirschman’S Model: High-Performance Employee Covert Behavior Toward Organizational Identity Change, Lisa Christine Bahar

Theses and Dissertations

This explanatory single case study revisited economist and philosopher Albert O. Hirschman’s (1970) exit, voice, and loyalty (EVL) model to explore two covert scenarios, which included how and why a high-performance employee stays silent and turns to apathy and neglect amid organizational identity change. A case study focused on Elon Musk’s Twitter, Inc. takeover was selected with a cross-case analysis procedure for validation and reliability. The unit of analysis was one high-performance employee and one organization that both served as an archetype for each unit. The study focused on occurrences before and during the takeover from June 2019 through July …

Millennial Leadership Practices: How Are They Choosing To Lead Using The Lens Of Their Managerial Style, Claudia Helen Hesky Archibald

Theses and Dissertations

Despite millennials comprising over one-third of the current workforce, empirical research regarding their leadership practices remains limited. This study aimed to address this gap by investigating: (1) the preferred leadership practices of millennial leaders, and (2) whether millennial characteristics indicate a preference for specific leadership styles. Data were collected from 48 millennial leaders in the United States through online surveys, supplemented by 16 virtual interviews. The analysis revealed that millennial leadership practices, consistent with servant leadership principles, emphasized empowerment and delegation, relationship and community building, and trust cultivation.

Charisma And Impulsivity In The Venture Pitch Persuasion Process, Shilena D. Battan

Theses and Dissertations

Entrepreneurs depend on persuasive pitching to secure venture capital (VC) funding, yet the roles of charisma and investor impulsiveness in shaping those decisions remain underexplored. This dissertation addresses the gap by examining how entrepreneurial charisma and investor impulsiveness influence persuasion outcomes during the pitch process. Two pilot studies and two main experiments tested these dynamics. In Study 1, a trained actor delivered a pre-scripted pitch in high and low charisma formats. In Study 2, extended the investigation by adapting the pitch text into AI-generated text, offering a comparison between human and AI-authored pitches. Results from both studies revealed a mix …

Best Practices For Addressing Invisible Labor Among Black Faculty At Predominately White Institutions, Candice Raynor

Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this research was on challenges impacting Black professors obtaining tenure, with the goal of establishing best practices aimed at preventing and addressing these challenges. The approach was conducting an assessment of race-related obstacles Black professors encountered at predominately White postsecondary colleges and universities. A review of the existing literature found that invisible labor, also known as cultural taxation, has long existed in the academy and has been documented in several studies. Cultural taxation is a term coined early in the 1990s to describe labor that is expected to be performed by someone because of their racial identity, …

'No Girl-On Girl Crime': A Qualitative Interview Study Of How Older Women In The Police Force Experience Competition, Social Support, And Discrimination, Bridget Graham

Theses and Dissertations

Law enforcement remains a male-dominated field in which women continually have to prove they belong. As women achieve recognition and move into high-ranking roles in law enforcement, they encounter unique forms of discrimination and social support opportunities that are shaped by their years of experience. To better understand the unique lived experiences of aging women in the context of the police force, this thesis conducted qualitative interviews with women in their fifties who have achieved success as police officers. Semi-structured interviews with six aging adult women within law enforcement were conducted. The interviews included questions related to the evolution of …

Write What You Know: Serving Others Through Purpose Driven And Honest Storytelling, Breanna Porter

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Project Hope: The Impact Of Coaching And Transformation Among Returning Citizens, Mark Keven Cox

Theses and Dissertations

The study of psychological transformation within the prison context appears nascent with few academic articles to be found on the subject. The few that do exist suggest that transformation in the prison context is possible. Drawing from the academic literature regarding psychological transformation, inclusive of Hope Theory and Self-efficacy Theory, this qualitative research sought to understand how cognitive coaching programs within United States prisons may foster psychological transformation and increased likelihood of societal reentry success for returning citizens. The research sits at the intersection of coaching and theories associated with psychological transformation and explores the consequences of a single carceral-based …

From Intent To Invent: An Exploration Of The Entrepreneurial Learning Strategies Of Entrepreneurially-Intentioned Individuals When Navigating Social Media As An Informal Learning Environment, Joshua Lyndon Gray

Theses and Dissertations

The journey from entrepreneurial intention to entrepreneurial invention involves various considerations for individuals with an intention to start a business in the next 3 years. While some individuals with entrepreneurial intentions pursue higher education prior to starting a business, some start businesses without graduating from a degree program—prompting an exploration of various entrepreneurial learning options. This study uncovered the learning strategies employed by individuals with entrepreneurial intentions when navigating informal learning environments, particularly social media, through a phenomenological qualitative approach. The study explored the phenomenon of entrepreneurial learning experiences through investigating the use of social media platforms as informal learning …

Writing Stories That Have An Impact, Andrew Rogers

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Identifying The Best Practices Of Wilderness-Immersion Programs To Support Veterans’ Transition From The Military To College, Catkin Kilcher Burton

Theses and Dissertations

This study identified best practices for designing and implementing wilderness-immersion programs to support student veterans transitioning from military service to college. It used a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design. Phase 1 of the study involved a Delphi approach wherein an expert panel of program facilitators, university staff, mental health providers, and student veterans rated and refined an initial set of best practices drawn from literature. Veterans Affairs directors provided feedback in a focus group format to refine the framework. This study contributes practical, evidence-based guidelines to enhance the academic, social, and emotional success of student veterans through wilderness-immersion interventions. Findings from …

Exploring Adaptive University President Narratives To Generate Growth And Sustainability, Ryan Charles Weber

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods study explores how university presidents leverage adaptive leadership principles and learning organization frameworks to generate institutional growth and sustainability in higher education. Through analysis of presidential narratives, the research examines the intersection of Heifetz et al.’s (2009) adaptive leadership theory and Senge’s (2006) five disciplines of learning organizations, revealing patterns in leadership communication that drive change. The study analyzed narratives from eight university presidents who demonstrated success through their institutions’ minimum 30% endowment growth over five years. Using thematic analysis and frequency counts, the research identified 198 references to learning organization disciplines, 90 adaptive leadership phases, and 100 …

Analysis Of Dual Roles: Work-Life Balance Experiences Of Female Professors And Mothers In California, Lu Liang

Theses and Dissertations

The study aims to discover and understand the work-life balance experience of mothers who are also professors working in higher education institutions in California. The research reveals the unique challenges, needs, and motivations to manage work and family responsibilities. The literature review indicates that mother professors encounter conflicts of roles and responsibilities from academic work and domestic duties. Moreover, mother professors experience persistent gender disparity and systemic barriers as an underrepresented group in academia, hindering their personal and professional advancements. This qualitative study utilizes quantitative ethnography (QE), an incorporated research methodology to examine mother professors’ work-life balance experience. Additionally, the …

Strategic Military Readiness: Navigating Knowledge Management In The United States Army, Blaine Andra White

Theses and Dissertations

This was a qualitative phenomenological study of knowledge management (KM) in the U.S. Army. The study explored the KM phenomenon by interviewing retired highly experienced field-grade Army commissioned and non-commissioned officers (NCOs), with varying backgrounds in combat, combat support, and combat service support branches. The research sought to address the problem of a discernable gap in the understanding among Army leaders regarding the effective utilization of KM staff for their units to employ the KM process effectively. This study's two central research questions (RQ) were RQ1: What targeted strategies can be developed for Army leaders and their subordinate units to …

Social Justice & Raising Awareness: The Stories That Need To Be Told, Christopher Eastman

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Consumer Satisfaction & Complaint Resolution In The Los Angeles Home Improvement Industry, Aimee Joy

Theses and Dissertations

Home has many layers of meaning as does the term, home improvement. The first and most common way of thinking about home is the structure in which we reside. For decades the American dream has involved home ownership. It is important to understand both the emotional and financial value of having a shelter and structure to call home. Losing this can be one of the most stressful events in life. The fires in Los Angeles County during the beginning of 2025 impacted thousands of people. Individuals, families, and communities were disrupted and forced to rebuild as well as reconsider what …

Navigating Leadership As A Black Woman In The United States Space Industry: An Exploration, Rogena Thurber

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study explored the ontological perspectives and leadership experiences of Black women in the U.S. space industry, employing an intersectionality conceptual framework. The research aimed to understand how Black women navigated their paths to leadership at the intersection of gender and race within Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) in the U.S. Space Industry (USSI).

Following a pilot phase to refine the research approach, eight one-hour, one-on-one interviews were conducted with Black women leaders from seven major USSI organizations in Southern California (LibGuides, n.d.). The study probed participants' leadership approaches, educational backgrounds, access to opportunities, and professional development experiences.

Emotional Intelligence …

Black Adolescents' Mental Health And Identity Formation: The Role Of Discrimination And Racial Socialization - A Systematic Review, Tsahai Jenkins

Theses and Dissertations

This systematic review examines the impact of racial discrimination on mental health and racial identity development among Black adolescents, focusing on anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and identity formation, as well as the protective role of racial socialization. Analysis of 19 qualitative and quantitative studies revealed that Black adolescents frequently experience discrimination across various settings, including schools, public spaces, and online platforms, with significant effects on mental health and self-concept. Gendered patterns were evident, with females more likely to internalize stress as anxiety and depression, while males showed externalizing behaviors such as aggression. Racial socialization, especially cultural pride messages, emerged as a …

A Systematic Review Of The Outcomes And Efficacy Of Complementary And Alternative Non-Pharmacological Interventions In Youth With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Kelly M. Kohler

Theses and Dissertations

A number of behavioral and pharmacological treatments have been widely accepted as evidenced-based approaches to treating symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. While pharmacological approaches are safe and effective at managing symptoms, a large subset of caregivers do not have access to medication, refuse it, or find it ineffective, necessitating the need for non-pharmacological treatments. Such behavioral interventions are also generally effective approaches to symptom management and reducing the functional impairment of ADHD and may even demonstrate better parent satisfaction than medication alone. However, these interventions are often difficult to access and burdensome to implement, especially …

Psychopathology, Symptomology, And Treatment In Offspring Of Holocaust Survivors: An Integrative Systematic Review, Lauren Grace Escobar

Theses and Dissertations

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the symptomatology, psychopathology, and treatment of offspring of Holocaust survivors (OHS). A comprehensive search was conducted in PsycINFO, PILOTS/PTSD, and Scopus for studies published between 1990 and 2024. Inclusion criteria required peer-reviewed studies, reports, books, literature reviews, and meta-analyses written or translated into English that reported on symptomatology and treatment for OHS. From an initial yield of 2,532 articles, 119 studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings suggest that OHS demonstrate significantly higher levels of symptomatology and psychopathology reported in nine clinical classifications. Psychodynamic treatment was the most commonly found treatment modality for OHS, …

Polarization And Civil Discourse In America: A Case Study Of Respectful Dialogue As A Moderating Influence On Generation Z, Liane Weintraub

Theses and Dissertations

Animosity between opposing political parties is longstanding, but the phenomenon is now acutely pervasive and dangerous. Today, polarization is further fueled by social media algorithms that create echo chambers, limiting discourse about diverse viewpoints. Consequently, polarization has become pernicious and threatens the founding principles of American democracy. This dissertation considers the roles of free speech, civility, and social capital in the US polarization problem. Through an exploration of historical scholarship on virtue, ethics, and civility, the study seeks to identify actionable tools for promoting civil discourse. The dissertation investigates Generation Z (Gen Z), focusing on intergenerational differences, the role of …

The Inner Emotional Landscape Of Nascent Od Entrepreneurs: A Qualitative Study Of Women Founders, Jordan Alexandra Davies

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the inner emotional landscape of nascent female entrepreneurs in the field of Organization Development (OD), illuminating the paradoxes they encounter as they build values-based businesses in a field that socializes deep personal alignment. Through semi-structured interviews with 10 founders of boutique OD firms, the research surfaced tensions between authenticity and performance, empowerment and dependency, coherence, and emotional dissonance. The findings suggest that becoming an OD entrepreneur involves working through paradox, not erasing it. In doing so, the study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of emotional labor, legitimacy, and the quiet cost of performing congruence in a …

Assessing The “Plateaus” Vertical Development Model With A New Likert Scale Instrument, Mark Divine

Theses and Dissertations

This research project will focus on the assessment of the Five Plateaus (Plateaus) vertical leadership development model with a newly constructed Likert Scale instrument. Part one of the research project was a pilot study to create a simple, internet-based instrument. The scale, comprised of 100 questions and completed in 30 minutes, assesses participants' self- perceived stage of development as presented in the Plateaus vertical development model. The instrument was designed to capture the experience of participants and to overcome limitations of existing assessments by mitigating the subjectivity of sentence completion instruments, as well as to enhance efficiency and reliability. The …

The Cognitive And Positive Aspects Of Language Brokering Among Latinx Individuals: An Integrative Systematic Review, Jacqueline Juarez

Theses and Dissertations

English has been the prominent language spoken in the United States; however, with the rise of the Spanish language, it is imperative to address how Spanish speakers navigate spaces. Research has found mixed findings about the outcomes of serving as a language broker. This integrative systematic review aimed to identify and analyze literature on Latinx language brokers regarding cognitive strategies and abilities and the positive processes and perceptions that contribute to enhancing mental health. This review also sought to focus on factors that may contribute to resiliency over time for Latinx language brokers. A total of 31 studies were included …

Assessment And Treatment Outcomes Of Women Experiencing Miscarriage And Pregnancy Loss: A Systematic Review Of The Literature, Hanieh Fakhrai

Theses and Dissertations

This systematic review examined the assessment tools, mental health outcomes, supportive resources, and intervention strategies related to women experiencing miscarriage and pregnancy loss. Despite affecting 10-20% of recognized pregnancies, the psychological impact of miscarriage is often overlooked in healthcare settings. Following PRISMA guidelines, 18 studies published between 2010-2021 from diverse international contexts were systematically analyzed. Findings revealed significant mental health consequences, including depression (prevalence 31-48.8%), anxiety (2.4-61%), and PTSD symptoms (14.7-43.9%). Risk factors for adverse outcomes included previous mental health conditions, history of infertility, multiple pregnancy losses, and difficulty finding meaning. Women identified helpful, supportive resources, including internet forums, sensitive …