Digital Commons Network^™

Theoretical Frameworks Used To Conceptualize The Intersection Of Deafness, Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities, And Language In The Literature: A Scoping Review, Jeremy M. Peterson

Theses and Dissertations

The prevalence rate for emotional/behavioral disabilities (EBD) among d/Deaf and hard of hearing (d/DHH) students has consistently been reported as statistically elevated in the literature, but the exact reason for this high prevalence has not been determined. Factors such as diagnostic shadowing, language proficiency, and difficulties in interfamilial communication have been identified; however, recent research suggests that language deprivation may also be a contributing factor. The intersection of language deprivation and EBD among d/DHH students has been studied by numerous researchers, but, to date, no one has explored how these topics are conceptualized together in the literature. As such, I …

Building Student-Teacher Relational Trust Through The Promotion Of Student Voice Initiatives, Scott Scherquist

Theses and Dissertations

This Dissertation in Practice investigated how student voice initiatives can strengthen student–teacher relational trust within an urban Pre-kindergarten through eighth grade (PreK-8) school serving a predominantly Black student population. Grounded in Khalifa’s (2018) Culturally Responsive School Leadership framework, the study implemented a 90-day cycle of inquiry focused on a three-part pathway intervention: the establishment of a Student Voice Committee, professional development on culturally responsive practices, and Student Consultation for School Change. A convergent mixed methods design was employed, combining two administrations of the 5Essentials Survey with pre- and post-intervention interviews of students and teachers. Findings revealed disparities between student and …

Navigating Intelligence: Exploring The Social Implications Of Smartness For Economically Disadvantaged Black Boys, Errika Tenise Baker Perkins

Theses and Dissertations

With a focus on how perceptions of race and socioeconomic class interact to influence friendships and peer acceptability, this study examined the social experiences of Black males with academic potential who come from low-income families. Using Critical Race Theory (CRT), Du Bois’ concept of double consciousness, and the framework of racial opportunity cost as guiding frameworks, the study examined how “smartness” functions as a cultural practice tethered to whiteness and how these dynamics affect identity and belonging.

This study was conducted using a qualitative research design, leveraging an interpretivist paradigm. To extract the stories of the research participants, semi-structured interviews …

Cross-Cultural Narratives: A Comparative Analysis Of "Yo Soy Betty, La Fea" And "Ugly Betty", Marcos Falck Hernandez

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the cross-cultural adaptation of the Colombian telenovela Yo soy Betty, la fea (1999–2001) into the American dramedy Ugly Betty (2006–2010), by analyzing how the latter reimagined the original narrative to address U.S.-specific cultural dynamics. Through qualitative analysis and literature review of the narrative structure, this study shows how “Ugly Betty” expanded its predecessor’s critique of beauty standards to explore Latino identity, multiculturalism, and workplace diversity in America. While both series center on an unconventional protagonist navigating the fashion industry, “Ugly Betty” uniquely foregrounds the experiences of a Mexican American family, offering nuanced depictions of immigration, cultural assimilation, …

The Impact Of Pre-Kindergarten Programs On Literacy Achievement In Primary Grades In Rural Southeast Alabama Title I Schools, Courtney Sonntonya Thorton

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine how pre-kindergarten impacts the literacy achievement of students in Alabama Title I schools. This quantitative study employed a causal-comparative (ex post facto) research design to examine the impact of Alabama’s First-Class Pre-K (FCPK) program on early literacy and school readiness, as measured by the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) and the Alabama Early Learning Inventory (AL ELI). The design was selected due to its appropriateness for studying naturally occurring groups and its capacity to explore potential cause-and-effect relationships without researcher-controlled intervention.

The independent variable was Pre-K attendance (attendee vs. …

Addressing Barriers To Preventive Healthcare Access Through Community Outreach In Underserved Populations, Deneisha Sparks

Theses and Dissertations

Access to preventive healthcare is a significant public health challenge, particularly for underserved populations in Muscogee County, Georgia. This project addresses systemic barriers such as transportation, limited health education, and economic constraints, which contribute to health disparities and reliance on emergency room services. Guided by the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) framework and the Health Belief Model (HBM), the project aims to enhance access to preventive care, improve health literacy and identify barriers to healthcare access.

This program evaluation report examined a community-based initiative that utilized a mobile health unit to improve access to preventive healthcare in underserved areas of …

Attacking Diabetes One Day At A Time, Kyla Duncan

Theses and Dissertations

The "Attacking Diabetes One Day at a Time" initiative targets the growing concern of public health, type 2 diabetes, among under-reserved communities. This comprehensive care program emphasizes the importance of prevention through education, improving lifestyles, and access to care. Based on insights from the Self-Care Management Theory, this initiative seeks to provide individuals with sound, culturally tailored strategies that reduce disease risk and help them manage healthy lifestyles. Major components include educational workshops, and resource navigation. The success of this program, from community engagement through evaluation on a phased implementation plan, is guaranteed. The expected outcomes of this work will …

How Do School Counselors And School Social Workers Support High School Bullying Victims: A Qualitative Exploratory Case Study, Dalentina N. Robertson

Theses and Dissertations

Bullying and student aggression are increasing in public high schools. Bullying and cyberbullying are a safety concern, and victims of bullying have shown a decline academically and emotionally. Additionally, high schools need increased support with bullying behaviors. The purpose of this exploratory case study was to explore school counselors’ and school social workers’ insights and perspectives regarding the support they provided to bullying victims in two school districts in rural Georgia. Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory was the framework used to focus research on understanding how environmental systems influence an individual’s development. Semi-structured interviews were conducted from a purposeful sample of …

Implications For Clinical Practice When Working With Latino Families Affected By Pediatric Cancer: An Integrative Systematic Review, Karla Rodas

Theses and Dissertations

The high mortality rates within the Latino population due to childhood cancer and the psychosocial challenges that come with the disease warrants attention from mental health professionals to provide support and address the distress experienced by affected families. The purpose of this integrative systematic review was to identify the psychosocial challenges faced by Latino families navigating childhood cancer, explore the role of cultural resiliency as a coping mechanism, and examine culturally adapted clinical interventions that integrate cultural resilience, promote psychosocial well-being, and improve treatment engagement. A PRISMA flow diagram was used to illustrate the systematic review process, which included 11 …

Congolese Refugee Narratives Of Belonging, Grief, And Cultural Continuity In Appalachia, Kayla Davis

Theses and Dissertations

This research examines the communicative challenges that Congolese refugees face after resettlement, particularly as they strive to reconstruct a sense of belonging in the United States that reflects their experiences in either their home country or secondary countries where they endured protracted displacement in refugee camps. Narrative qualitative research methods were used to conduct interviews with five Congolese refugees in Appalachia. Through qualitative thematic and lexical analysis derived from the interviews, the study reveals patterns of linguistic isolation, community continuity, and emotional displacement. A key finding is that participants often conceptualize community not as a geographic entity, but as an …

Measuring The Clinical Effectiveness Of Telenutrition Medical Nutrition Therapy Among American Indian And Alaska Native Adults Newly Diagnosed With Type 2 Diabetes, Charisse Lindsey Holiday

Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 global pandemic was the impetus of the transition from in-person medical nutrition therapy (MNT) visits to telephone MNT. This occurred without evaluation of its clinical effectiveness, especially for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). It is known that in-person MNT is clinically effective at lowering hemoglobin A1c (A1c) and that people with diabetes who experience food insecurity have poorer health. However, research characterizing food insecurity among AI/ANs is limited. This retrospective observational analytical study was conducted at the Phoenix Indian Medical Center (PIMC) in Phoenix, Arizona to assess the clinical effectiveness of telephone delivered MNT services by a …

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 …

Breaching The Screen: A Digital Technofeminist Methodology For Virtual And Augmented Realities, Frank Macarthy

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation provides a methodological framework that seeks to further scholarly and pedagogical inquiry at the intersections of feminist rhetorical studies, digital rhetoric, and cultural studies. More specifically, drawing upon theories of technofeminism (relationships among technology and feminism) and cyberfeminism (relationships among the internet and feminism), this dissertation proposes a digital technofeminist methodology to study the complex relationships between virtual, augmented, and mixed reality technologies, bodies, and rhetoric. This framework aims to help digital rhetoric scholar-teachers to critically investigate digital technologies that blur the distinction between virtuality, material bodies, and realities.

Building on digital rhetoric and technofeminist scholarship, this dissertation …

Rebranding Ink: Language, Identity, And The Rise Of Tatū In Contemporary Japan, Elise M. Ulrich

Theses and Dissertations

In modern Japan, the shift from the traditional term irezumi (入れ墨) to the English loanword tatū (タトゥー) reflects more than just language change—it reveals deeper cultural and social transformations. Loanwords, or borrowed words from other languages, often enter a language through cultural contact, adapting to fit local linguistic and social norms. As the Linguistic Society of America notes, “Most languages have been influenced at one time or another by contact” (Winford, n.d., p. 1). Since World War II, English has become a major source of loanwords in Japanese, shaping everything from everyday conversation to aesthetic trends.

This thesis explores why …

Navigating Acculturation: Opportunities, Challenges, And Community Support For African Immigrants In The U.S., Sharitah Nalule

Theses and Dissertations

African immigrants in the United States encounter complex acculturation challenges that are often shaped by systemic barriers such as language exclusion, financial insecurity, limited employment access, and time-restricted support services. This qualitative study explores how African immigrants experience the acculturation process and how community-based programs support or fall short in supporting their acculturation. Semi-structured individual interviews with Somali immigrants and community practitioners in the Midwest. While most African immigrant narratives reflect the experiences of Somali immigrants, practitioners provide insight into the broader African immigrant population based on their work with diverse African immigrant clients. Findings revealed three central themes: (1) …

Attitudes And Perceptions Toward The Qassimi Dialect, Fahad M. Alwehaibi

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores attitudes and perceptions surrounding the Qassimi dialect within Saudi Arabia. It addresses two primary questions: What are the attitudes of Qassimi speakers toward their own dialect? and What are the perceptions of non-Qassimi Saudi citizens regarding the Qassimi dialect in terms of stereotypes and its speakers? To investigate these questions, the research employed two population-specific surveys—one for Qassimi speakers and another for non-Qassimi participants—alongside semi-structured interviews with selected Qassimi individuals to gain deeper qualitative insights. The findings reveal that Qassimi speakers generally express strong pride and a positive emotional connection to their dialect, viewing it as a …

The Path From Acceptance To Adoption For Linguistic Innovations Dealing With Gender In The Language Classroom, Juan Carlos Acevedo Fontecha

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the factors influencing the acceptance, rejection, or adoption of gender inclusive and gender-non-identifying forms among language users. The study draws on responses from 25 students in a linguistic class to evaluate innovations in English and from 23 instructors of Spanish to evaluate innovations in Spanish. Participants took part in a survey designed to evaluate existing forms endorsed by the United Nations, and gender-non-identifying forms, such as the -e morpheme in Spanish or singular they in English, promoted by community-generated guides. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed side by side to better understand the participants’ reasoning regarding these …

Promoting A Pedagogy Of Critical Engagement: Teaching English Grammar And Usage Through A Socio-Historical, Investigative Approach, Robin E. Cross Halsey

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation introduces and explicates a novel pedagogical approach to a university course that focuses on the application of English grammar and usage for writers. This approach to the teaching of English grammar and usage is grounded in several related disciplines and fields of study, including linguistics (specifically historical linguistics and sociolinguistics), language ideologies, and inquiry-based education.

The course curriculum combines examinations of historical ideologies and attitudes that have influenced debates about language usage and the value of teaching grammar with explicit instruction of specific grammar terms and concepts. The initial phase of the course introduces rhetorical grammar, usage and …

A Word Is Worth A Thousand Words: Sustained Alphabetic Narratives And The Academic Success Of English Language Learners At The Secondary Level, Ricardo D. King Jr

Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, English Language Learner (EL) education, more commonly referred to as English as a Second Language (ESL) or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), has advocated for a multimodal approach to classroom instruction. At the same time, higher level English Language Arts (ELA) classes continue to use sustained alphabetic narratives without explicit references to multimodal practices (i.g., graphic novels, graphic narratives, comics, picture books, etc.). This disconnect in teacher advocacy and in educational practice has positioned EL students outside of the opportunities offered by higher level ELA coursework and the sustained alphabetic narratives that are taught …

Preschool Developmental Play And Autism, Michelle Brooks Peterson

Theses and Dissertations

This school improvement project applies the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) model to explore strategies to increase peer engagement among preschool students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in a developmental playroom setting. Play is a cornerstone of early childhood development, fostering cognitive, social, and emotional growth. However, children with ASD often encounter challenges in engaging with play environments due to social communication difficulties and sensory processing differences. Grounded in Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, this project adopts a Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Intervention (NDBI) framework to facilitate peer interactions and enhance engagement in inclusive play settings.

The intervention focuses on guiding …

Weighted Suffixation And Symbiosis In Morphology: The Suffixes -Meister And -O, Zachary Dukic

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on derivational morphology, specifically the historical development and current status of the suffixes -meister and -o in Present-day English. I approach this research from the perspective of language as a complex adaptive system and apply a network model of linguistic storage and processing. I identify semantic domains for each suffix via exemplars which demonstrate the semantic range and variability of -meister and -o. I propose definitions for weight and delexicalization as they pertain to the evolution of these suffixes. Both have gained lexical weight via cumulative semantic associations determined via the network …

Cultural Identity In Mental Health Services And Helpseeking Behaviours Among African International Students, Mark Ofosu Asirifi

Theses and Dissertations

Acculturation stress impacts international students’ psychological well-being and academic success, yet research on African students remains limited. For African international students, this stress is intensified by cultural stigma surrounding mental health services, deterring help-seeking due to fears of judgment and ostracization. This identity negotiation complicates their willingness to access support, reinforcing cultural barriers to mental health care. This study explores how cultural identity shapes the mental health perceptions and help-seeking behaviors of African international students in the United States. Grounded in the Communication Theory of Identity (CTI) and the Health Belief Model (HBM), the research examines how acculturative stress, stigma, …

Investigating Meaningful Reflection Through Teacher Research, Brandon Hillary

Theses and Dissertations

This practitioner research study explores strategies for inviting high school students into meaningful sustained reflection during a semester-long civic inquiry project in the ELA classroom. The study examines how engaging students in a structured, inquiry-based reflection process can foster deeper, more meaningful reflection outcomes. Specifically, the study explores a process for facilitating student engagement in critical reflection, considers how students respond to process-oriented reflection prompts, and analyzes their reflective engagement across both written and verbal mediums.

Through a qualitative research design incorporating student reflections, classroom observations, and teacher-researcher analysis, the study identifies key patterns in how students navigate and articulate …

Exploring Refugee Students’ Experiences In Midwest Higher Education Environments: Culturally Responsive Practices For Educators, Rohana De Silva

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined the teaching and learning strategies used by highereducation faculty to support refugee students at a Midwestern university. Recognizing that refugee students bring diverse cultural, linguistic, and experiential backgrounds to academic environments, this research examined how instructional practices can either promote or hinder their educational success. Traditional teaching methods often fall short in addressing the complex needs of this student population. Using Yosso’s Community Cultural Wealth Framework, Bourdieu’s Theory of Cultural Capital, and Resilience Theory, this study analyzed the narratives of refugee students to uncover how their lived experiences influenced their educational journeys. Findings revealed that refugee …

Visible, Invisible: (Levantine) Arab American Men On Mental Health, Nesreen Jaber

Theses and Dissertations

To address the dearth in psychological research and practice in regards to Arab American men, this study examined the lived experiences of seven Levantine (Belad Al Sham) Arab American men with origins in Palestine, Lebanon, and Iraq. Semi-structured interviews, Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), and a Liberation Psychology framework were utilized to explore their definitions of mental health, their experiences of stigma, their experiences with mental health therapy, and their attitudes towards psychology and therapy. A total of seven superordinate themes emerged that highlighted the roles of gendered stigma, cultural incongruence in therapeutic praxis, Eurocentric norms in psychology, and conceptualizations of …

Mental Health Stigma Among Latiné Adolescents: Help-Seeking Intentions And Recommendations, Brenda D. Barragan

Theses and Dissertations

Latiné adolescents in the United States face increasing mental health challenges, including elevated rates of depression, suicidal ideation, and emotional distress, particularly in underserved regions such as the Midwest. Despite these needs, Latiné adolescents remain underrepresented in mental health research, particularly with respect to how cultural values and intersecting identities—such as gender, immigrant status, and perceived socioeconomic status—influence stigma and help-seeking behaviors. Grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study explored how mental health stigma and cultural factors shape help-seeking intentions and recommendations among 95 self-identified Latiné adolescents in North Dakota and Minnesota. The study examined two primary …

Examining A Year One Sor Implementation: A Mixed-Method Study Of Teacher Experiences And Student Literacy Scores, Christine Litzinger

Theses and Dissertations

With increasing national and legislative mandates prioritizing SoR practices, many schools are shifting their literacy practices to align classroom instruction, interventions, and screening to follow reading research, which can require a shift in pedagogy for individual educators and schools. This exploratory sequential mixed-methods study explored a year one implementation of the Science of Reading (SoR) in a mid-size midwestern school district during their first year of across-district literacy reform. Qualitative case study interviews were conducted of K-3 Classroom teachers (4) and literacy coaches (4). Emergent themes from the findings included value in high fidelity professional development, challenges related to resource …

Why Can't We Just Be: Native American College Student Sense Of Belonging At The University Of North Dakota, Gavin Michael Nadeau

Theses and Dissertations

Sense of belonging is a primary indicator of retention and persistence to graduation forNative American college students. Though more than doubling in the past 30 years, Native American college student enrollment has decreased since 2010 (197,000 in 2010 to 107,000 in 2021) (PNPI, 2021; NCES, n.d.). In 2020, Native American students’ 2nd year retention rate was more than 20% lower than their white peers at the University of North Dakota (UND, 2020). When college students of color feel like they belong, they are more likely to retain, persist, and graduate (Mowreader, 2024; Hurtado & Carter, 1997; Hurtado et al., 1999). …

From Emily To Loralei To Rory: A Qualitative Textual Analysis Of Scripts From Gilmore Girls For Real-World Application, Erin Mccann

Theses and Dissertations

In the realm of interpersonal communication and intrafamilial research, one dynamic, the mother and daughter pairing, is especially poignant in exploring the ties of closeness, the openness of communication and the potential for long-term impact on a daughter’s development. When studying the mother and daughter dynamic through a work of fiction, patterns can be observed without bias, allowing for evaluation of the strength of relationship and identification of broader implication to the discipline of family communication. In this study, a textual analysis was conducted evaluating 21 exemplary episodes of the 2000s television show Gilmore Girls focused entirely on the interactions …

Belongingness And Science Identity Of Underrepresented Students In Aerospace Sciences, Bella Hettich

Theses and Dissertations

Despite efforts to support underrepresented individuals—specifically those from racial, ethnic, and gender minority groups—they continue to face unique challenges that affect their belongingness in aerospace sciences, leading to issues with retention in educational programs and subsequent professional pathways. Such hindrances to personal achievement can also impede broader organizational goals. Addressing these challenges is critical, as supporting the success of underrepresented individuals fosters diverse perspectives, which are essential for driving innovation and maximizing organizational productivity. Just as importantly, ensuring that every individual, regardless of background, has access to opportunities and the support needed to succeed fulfills an ethical obligation. Upholding the …