Digital Commons Network^™

I Am Not A Dictator; I Am A Defender: The Rhetoric Of Coup D’État In Francophone Africa, Isaac Asare Kwakye

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the rhetorical strategies used by coup leaders in Francophone Africa to authorize their actions and garner public support. Focusing on recent military takeovers in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger since 2020, I investigate how coup leaders construct narratives of legitimacy within the context of contemporary geopolitical dynamics. I utilize Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to analyze speeches by three key coup leaders: Colonel Assimi Goïta, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, and General Abdourahamane Tchiani. My analysis reveals four interconnected rhetorical frameworks: framing interventions as emergency measures, cultivating savior personas, weaponizing anti-colonial grievances, and deploying anti-corruption narratives. A comparative analysis of …

“Don’T Panic, It’S Just Ai:” A Qualitative Study On Internal Communication Strategies For Managing Ai-Driven Change”, Edikan Nkanta

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study investigated how organizations utilize internal communication strategies to navigate AI-driven change effectively. Through semi-structured interviews with eleven communication professionals and change leaders across various industries, the research identified key communication approaches that facilitate successful AI implementation. Findings revealed three primary strategies: framing AI as a tool that enhances rather than replaces human capabilities, connecting AI initiatives to organizational purpose and business goals, and demonstrating practical use cases through concrete examples. The study also highlighted the importance of establishing clear guidelines for responsible AI use, making initial adoption optional rather than mandatory, and directly addressing job security concerns. …

Game Or No Game: Navigating Office Politics And Female Leaders Success Through The ‘Labyrinth’ Metaphor Lens, Clementina Edema

Theses and Dissertations

The examination of women and leadership has always focused on power dynamics, biases, and identity inside organizations, particularly with the challenges women encounter in the workplace. This study presents the concept of office politics as it pertains to women’s career advancement and its impact on female leaders in the workplace. The objective of the study is to examine how women in organizations navigate office politics, dealing with it as a barrier to career progression. The labyrinth metaphor proposed by Eagly and Carli (2007) served as the conceptual framework to illustrate the challenges women encounter in organizations while pursuing leadership roles. …

Sexual Labor, United States Immigration Law, And México's Emerging Feminist Consciousness, 1875-1925, Narcedalia Ramirez

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an intellectual, cultural, women’s, and transnational history between México and the United States that outlines the arguments over sex workers. At the forefront is how stories of sex workers intersect with the histories of moral and hygiene reform movements, and United States laws on immigration and morality during the years of 1875 to 1925. This body of work is in conversation with scholars such as Kelly Lytle Hernández. Susie S. Porter, and Diana Montaño.

Sources include United States legislation, Spanish written newspapers and studies on sex work from México, the Elena Torres Cuéllar Archives, the Margaret Sanger …

Enhancing Climate Change Awareness In Children Through Augmented Reality: A Study On Educational Engagement., Jubair Islam

Theses and Dissertations

As the need to address climate change becomes more urgent, introducing children to environmental conservation has become increasingly important. This thesis explores how augmented reality (AR) technology can turn traditional storytelling into an exciting and educational experience to help children learn about climate change. Sam and Mia’s Earth-Saving Adventure, a 10-page graphic storybook enhanced with AR, allows children aged 3-10 to interact with the story through animations and sound effects that respond to their choices. Developed using Adobe Aero, the book creates an immersive and fun way for children to engage with environmental topics.

The study uses a combination of …

“My Pain Was Never More Valuable Than His Potential”: A Rhetorical Thematic Analysis Of Gaslighting Within Sexual Abuse Cases, Makayla Roller

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines gaslighting within three prominent sexual abuse cases—Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer, and Larry Nassar—uncovered during the #MeToo movement, to better understand the rhetorical function of gaslighting. Using a combination of rhetorical thematic analysis, critical discourse analysis, a feminist lens, and a gaslighting schema, this study identifies the rhetorical tactics, gendered discourse, and power-laden discourse deployed to gaslight victims and the public. I argue that gaslighting must be examined through a rhetorical lens, as discourse is the mechanism through which gaslighting operates, shaping perceptions of truth, credibility, and power. By highlighting how language is weaponized to deny, distort, and …

The Tender Flesh: Dwelling In Soft Wounds And Visceral Bodies, Madelyn Irene Turner-Havens

Theses and Dissertations

Within my painting process, I explore bodily interiority and exteriority in relation to the surface of painting, evoking a discomforting sense of corporeal (dis)embodiment, where haunted flesh becomes palpable. Indexing conversations with the body into the painting is a way to understand my body and create an experience of what happens when language fails to capture the complexity of sensation. Painting becomes a mediation with the canvas, a constant discovery of what can give shape to the intangible: how it feels when my skin folds into itself, bodily urges, and the soft texture of fatty tissue.

I let the parts …

Do You Hear It?: Perceptions Of A Vocational Calling And Retention Considerations For Student Affairs Professionals, Tim Holbrook

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study examines the perceptions of student affairs professionals of their work as a job, career, or calling and how that perception corresponds to their feelings about the course of their future professional endeavors. The research subject pool included student affairs professionals employed by large research institutions who graduated from master’s degree programs between the years of 2017 and 2020.

The study suggests that while these early-career student affairs professionals exhibited a pro-social orientation that attracted them to community-oriented work and they find personal meaning in their employment, there is a risk that individuals in student affairs may be …

The Impact Of Bilingual Teacher License, And Years Of Experience On Bilingual Student Reading Achievement Across Multiple-Grade Levels, Cuauhtemoc D. Reyes

Theses and Dissertations

The body of literature had an ongoing debate of which certification or license type had a greater impact on student achievement. Nevertheless, there were insufficient studies that focused on the impact of certification type and years of experience in the Bilingual camp. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation was to explore the findings of the various impact Bilingual teacher license, years of experience, and both Bilingual license and years of experience had on Bilingual student reading achievement. Hence, the dissertation used a quantitative causal-comparative design and explored the research questions. The findings varied from grade levels, school years, and languages. …

“Money Is Just A Tool, Not The Goal”: Examining Messages That Parents Tell Their Children About Money, Hannah Delorto

Theses and Dissertations

Parental communication plays a crucial role in a young person's development of financial knowledge and behaviors, such as budgeting, saving, investing, retirement preparation, consumer skills, and avoiding excessive debt. This research focuses on emerging young adults aged 18-25, who are a vulnerable group of spenders. Participants shared memorable messages they received about money and rated the messages for positive or negative affect. Then, they answered questions measuring their financial literacy, perceived financial wellbeing, attitude about the importance of money. Four major themes were represented in the data of memorable messages: daily habits, long-term goals, family finances, and the meaning of …

From Unprepared To On Track: Closing The Kindergarten Readiness Gap By Using A Team-Based Approach To Implement A Multi-Tiered System Of Supports (Mtss) Framework With Fidelity, Erica Filipiak

Theses and Dissertations

We live in a world where preschool and even kindergarten are optional years in schooling, only perpetuating the problem of incoming kindergartener students systemically lacking foundational skills necessary to successfully begin their academic careers. Access to quality preschool is an equity problem that needs to be discussed and researched. Preparing a student to enter kindergarten with the appropriate foundational academic skills does not just set them up for kindergarten success, but also for success in future grade levels. Therefore, a co-design team focused a problem of practice at an elementary school to provide the kindergarten teacher with additional support by …

Reframing Equity Gaps: A Descriptive Analysis Of Reported Spending For Underrepresented Minorities At Illinois Community Colleges, Terrance Marshall Bond

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative descriptive analysis investigates reported institutional spending and associated equity gaps for underrepresented minority (URM) students in Illinois community colleges from FY2017-FY2021. Guided by Critical Sensemaking (CSM) theory, the study examines correlations between targeted expenditures and enrollment and completion outcomes for Black and Latinx undergraduate students. Utilizing data from Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) Underrepresented Groups (URG) reports, this research identifies patterns in institutional financial commitments toward equity initiatives, analyzing their relationship to enrollment and completion disparities. Key findings reveal substantial variability in institutional spending directed toward underrepresented minorities, despite statewide mandates and strategic goals focused on reducing equity …

A New Theater For Age-Old Social Patterns: An Exploratory Study Of Interpersonal Dynamics And The Overlay Of Gender Within Ai Companionship, Miriam Wolff

Theses and Dissertations

The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) companions fundamentally shifts the landscape of interpersonal communication, introducing artificial entities as relational partners rather than mere facilitators of human-to-human interaction. This exploratory study examines the interplay of machine gendering, self-disclosure, perceived partner responsiveness (PPR), and interpersonal satisfaction within human-AI interactions. Participants engaged in conversations with gendered AI companions through the program Replika, completed structured surveys, and participated in qualitative interviews. Findings indicate that users' willingness to self-disclose was influenced by their perceptions of AI responsiveness, while gendered characteristics of AI significantly shaped user expectations and communication patterns. Specifically, users often attributed distinct personality …

Utilizing Information Technology And Hands-On Learning Practices To Improve Student Learning Outcomes In A High Failure Rate Introductory Programming Course, Todd Edward Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to introduce and examine the impact that two interventions have on a high failure rate introductory programing course: a pedagogical approach of introducing Live Coding instruction technique to the in-person lecture portion, and a technological approach of introducing remote collaboration software (VS Code Liveshare) to the online lab portion. This study used convergent parallel mixed methods approach for both data collection and analysis; utilizing four data collection methods: 1) online survey questionnaires 2) in-depth interviews 3) in class observations and 4) quantifiable data collection (ie., student demographic, IT experience, GPA data). The Live Coding …

From Access To Application: Exploring The Depth Of Technology Integration In Rural And Non-Rural Schools, Rebecca M. Laible

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examines how geographic disparities influence the integration of educational technology in rural Illinois high schools. Through interviews with a technology specialist from a rural district and a curriculum director from a non-rural district in Illinois, the research explores differences in access, instructional use, and systemic support. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) Ecological Systems Theory and DiGironimo’s (2011) Three Dimensions of Technology, findings show that while both districts value technology, rural integration tends to focus on access and functionality, while non-rural schools more often embed technology into inquiry-driven instruction. These results highlight the need for context-sensitive approaches that consider …

The Effects Of Singing In Music Therapy Sessions On Vocabulary Acquisition With Children With Asd, Yeim Kim

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often struggle with language acquisition and maintaining engagement during learning activities. While music therapy has shown promise in supporting communication and behavior in children with ASD, few studies have focused on its effect on vocabulary acquisition, particularly in comparing different types of music interventions like singing and non-singing approaches.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore how singing, as a method used in music therapy, affects vocabulary acquisition in a child with ASD. Three research questions guided this study: (1) How do singing and non-singing programs influence receptive vocabulary acquisition in a child with …

Transformative Social Emotional Learning Practices And Instructional Engagement In The Kindergarten Classroom, Lisa Skelly

Theses and Dissertations

The kindergarten teachers at Catalina Elementary School have identified a crucial issue: their students' inability to self-regulate is impeding their learning and classroom engagement. The kindergarten team engages in ongoing professional learning with a focus on transformative social emotional learning. The teacher team explores whether on-going professional learning based in transformative social emotional core competencies impacts their direct instruction of transformative social emotional standards. Teachers further support implementation of the transformative social emotional core competencies using structured play-based activities. Following the on-going professional learning sessions, the teacher team would craft a whole group lesson and select an activity to embed …

Area Of Effect The History And Effects Of Linguistic Choices Made In The Final Fantasy Franchise, Camille Mcdermott

Theses and Dissertations

The Final Fantasy franchise, a seminal role-playing game (RPG) series, has captivated a global audience since its inception in 1987. This thesis, titled "Area of Effect: The History and Effects of Linguistic Choices Made in the Final Fantasy Franchise," explores the intricate use of language that has shaped the series' identity and influenced its worldwide fanbase. The linguistic landscape of Final Fantasy is as diverse and dynamic as its fantastical worlds, evolving from simple text boxes to fully voiced narratives. This study examines the historical context and evolving linguistic choices throughout the series, highlighting how these decisions enrich the gaming …

Language Ideologies In Coloniality Contexts: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis Of Efl Teachers’ Experiences And Perceptions On The Use Of Learners’ Language Repertoire As Assets For Teaching And Learning, Kountiala J. Some

Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, I examined how dominant language ideologies in language politics and policy shape the professional identity development and pedagogical practices of five English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers in Burkina Faso. The study sought to understand how these ideologies influence teachers’ beliefs and perceptions of multilingual pedagogical approaches, as well as possible pathways for deconstructing them to promote student-centered practices. The participants’ accounts revealed that their academic and professional identities were largely shaped by the belief that home languages hinder proficiency in French and English. They recalled with remorse their elementary school experiences, where speaking native languages …

Exploring The Interplay Of Health-Related Psychological Constructs, Health Promotion Programs, And Work Outcomes: A Two-Study Approach, Peyton Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

Health and wellness initiatives have become central components within modern workplaces. A growing emphasis on maintaining and improving personal health and wellness has clear effects in professional environments as health promotion programs are increasingly implemented. This project aims to uncover the psychological constructs that are targeted and influenced by such programs. Specifically, these studies examine the influence of health messaging on individual levels of health anxiety and health consciousness and investigate how those constructs interact with attendance and health-related outcomes. Additionally, information regarding an employees’ organizational commitment was gathered to examine its’ potential impact. The thesis further elaborates on the …

What’S Age Got To Do With It? The Cognitive Effects Of Racial And Gendered Microaggressions Among Black Women And The Role Of Age, Colorblindness And Racial Identity, Jazsmine Towner

Theses and Dissertations

Racial microaggressions are brief, everyday derogatory interactions in the form of subtle insults, gestures, or slights (Sue et al., 2007). Microaggressions often are intentional or unintentional interactions that communicate denigrating messages to individuals holding marginalized identities. Previous research suggests that exposure to microaggressions directly results in cognitive depletion (Banks & Landau, 2021). The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of exposure to racial and gendered microaggressions on Black women’s cognitive functioning and the role of racial centrality, age, and colorblind attitudes. I hypothesized that (a) condition assignment would predict changes in cognitive functioning for Black women, (b) …

Growing Through The Questions: Studying Sticking Points To Strengthen Commitments To Socially Just English Language Arts Teaching, Kaitlyn P. Blake

Theses and Dissertations

This teacher-research study explores sticking points that emerge in my high school English language arts (ELA) classroom as a way of aligning my practice with my socially just ELA teaching framework, especially in my early career years. Using qualitative methods to focus on my classroom interactions with students, two specific sticking points emerged as significant to my learning. Although I initially interpreted these sticking points as being between the students and me, my analysis revealed that the sticking points were actually a result of my socially just framework being challenged by my own enactment of it. Learning to reframe these …

The Impact Of Ableist Microaggressions On The Supervisory Relationship And The Influence Of Burnout And Self-Efficacy, Berenice Contreras

Theses and Dissertations

Disabled graduate students often report experiences of ableist microaggressions in their training environment, as disability-affirming practices tend to be overlooked in higher education institutions (Kattari et al., 2019; Lund et al., 2020). Ableist microaggressions are verbal, nonverbal, and/or environmental messages that relay derogatory messages toward individuals with disabilities and normalize everyday forms of discrimination enacted toward them (Annamma et al., 2013; Kattari et al., 2019). Studies demonstrate that disabled graduate students in health psychology graduate programs report higher exposure to ableist experiences during pre internship training and supervision compared to other stages of graduate training (Lund et al., 2014; Lund …

The Role Of Ethnic-Racial Centrality On Exposure To Microaggressions And The Mental Health And Academic Success Of Second-Generation Latiné Adolescents, Lisette Munoz

Theses and Dissertations

People holding racially minoritized identities are frequently subjected to racial-ethnic microaggressions, a form of everyday racism and discrimination. Acculturative stress and microaggressions have a direct impact on immigrants' mental health (Gee et al., 2007; Finch & Vega, 2003; Hovey, 2000). The increase in conservative immigration policies has led to increased anti-immigrant sentiments and microaggressions (Sissoko & Nadal, 2021). The impact of microaggressions can detrimentally affect psychological and physiological wellbeing, as well as academic performance and cognitive function (Solórzano & Pérez Huber, 2020). Because of their experiences with discrimination, Latino children may become more aware of biases in their social interactions …

Experienscape And The Interior Environment: A Case Study At A Bar With Entertainment, Paige J. Hendrickson

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this study was to understand what aspects of the interior environment at a bar with bowling affect customers’ willingness to return and word-of-mouth sharing. The dimensions of the experiencescape model were used to guide the research, focusing on sensory, functional, social, and hospitality culture. A mixed qualitative methods approach was used, combining observations, focus group interviews, and moment maps to investigate customer comfort, satisfaction, excitement, memorability, and the difference in one’s perception of their experience based on ethnicity. It was found that the unique atmosphere, price, staff, and diversity were the main reasons customers returned or shared …

Perceptions And Treatment Decisions For A Drug Offender Based On Social Class, Cocaine Type, Personal Characteristics, And Compassionate Love: A Vignette Study, Yasmin A. Odeh

Theses and Dissertations

Problem: The shift from a focus on rehabilitation to the more punitive, “tough on crime” approach to illegal behavior in the U.S. has been enacted in no small way by policies connected to the use and abuse of drugs. The disparities between crack and powder cocaine—two chemically similar substances—have headlined this shift (Vagins and McCurdy 2006). However, research is scarce on laypeople’s approval of deterrence approaches for drug offenses, including as a function of types (e.g., powder vs. cocaine possession). This study examined people’s perceptions of prosecutorial decisions for drug offenders—whether they are punished, rehabilitated, or both—and whether people perceived …

The Moderating Effects Of Need-Supply And Demand-Ability Fit On The Relationship Of Vocational Interest Fit And Job Satisfaction, Munkhjin Bat-Ireedui

Theses and Dissertations

The current study examined the relationship between vocational interest fit and global job satisfaction and explored how demand-ability fit and need-supply fit moderated this association. The results showed that there was a significant positive relationship between vocational interest fit and job satisfaction. Furthermore, while demand-ability fit and need-supply fit were positively associated with job satisfaction, their moderating effects were non-significant. This study showcases the importance of different types of fit in relation to global job satisfaction. The discussion provides future research ideas, including longitudinal or time-lagged study design and development of fit scales via artificial intelligence.

Normalizing Delinquency And Risky Behaviors In Adolescents: An Application Of Neutralization Theory To Parents, Audrey Cheatham

Theses and Dissertations

Sykes and Matza’s Neutralization theory (1957) was originally developed to explain juvenile involvement in delinquency, with extensions of this theory being used to understand crime in other offending groups. Although neutralization theory has been widely applied to offenders, far less research has examined how neutralizations may be used by non-offending groups. This study applies Sykes and Matza’s framework to parents to explore whether neutralizations are being employed to justify risk taking or delinquent behavior among their adolescent children. This study also examines how parents differentiate risky behavior from delinquent behavior, as well as their attitude towards seven major risk factors …

Improving Student Behavior And Safety On Bus Route 40 Through A Team-Based Climate Intervention, Kathleen M. Lopez Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

Student transportation is a daily yet often overlooked component of school climate, safety, and equity. This Dissertation in Practice (DiP), aligned with Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) principles of inquiry, collaboration, and continuous improvement, examined how a structured, team-based intervention could improve student behavior and bus climate on Bus Route 40 at Pinecrest Primary School. Guided by improvement science principles and grounded in a commitment to equity, the study applied a 90-day Plan–Do–Study–Act (PDSA) cycle to test and refine strategies aimed at fostering safety, belonging, and accountability among students. The intervention organized students into color-coded teams that earned …

The Effects Of Training And Peer Coaching On The Fidelity Of Explicit Instruction On Social-Emotional Learning In Early Childhood Education, Ashley A. Strausbaugh

Theses and Dissertations

The current study investigated how training and peer coaching could improve fidelity of explicit instruction practices in early education teachers for social-emotional learning. Three teams of preschool teachers were trained in the use of explicit instructional practices and paired up to provide coaching in these practices during the intervention. The training and coaching were based on the model by Dunst et al. (2019), which identifies that providing training that includes elements of information, demonstration, practice opportunities, coaching and feedback increases the likelihood of moving knowledge to practice. A multiple baseline design was used to investigate fidelity of explicit instruction for …