Digital Commons Network^™

Trait Mindfulness And Political Polarization: Investigating Neural Responses And Emotional Orientations, Elif Z. Celik

Theses and Dissertations

The rapid escalation of political polarization has led to increased social distancing, aggressive partisan behavior, and discriminatory attitudes among Democrats and Republicans. Prior research has indicated that mindfulness is associated with increased compassion, reduced prejudice, and diminished aggression toward out-group members. This thesis investigates the relationship between trait mindfulness and political polarization by examining neural responses and emotional orientations in individuals with varying levels of mindfulness. This research measured brain activity using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) while participants viewed emotionally charged political videos and neutral content. The primary hypothesis suggested that individuals with high trait mindfulness would exhibit left-lateralized prefrontal …

Developing And Testing A Model Of Discrimination, Internalized Oppression, Mental Health, And Suicidality In Disabled Transgender And Gender Non-Binary (Tgnb) Individuals, Stephanie L. Cull

Theses and Dissertations

Transgender and gender nonbinary (TGNB) individuals experience high rates of discrimination and microaggressions that can lead to internalized cisgenderism and adverse mental health outcomes such as depression, anxiety, and suicidality. Individuals with disabilities similarly experience high rates of discrimination and microaggressions that can lead to internalized ableism and increased adverse mental health outcomes. Although both of these populations have been researched separately, very little extant research has explored the intersections of disabled and TGNB identities. The purpose of this study was to explore a hypothesized pathway leading from microaggressions through internalized oppression and mental health to suicidal ideation within a …

Housing For Transgender And Gender Expansive People In The U.S. South, Aaron M. Kemmerer

Theses and Dissertations

Housing is a prominent issue for transgender and gender expansive (TGE) people around the world. There is a dearth of research about TGE people experiencing homelessness (TGE PEH) in the U.S. South. This dissertation aims to amplify the voices of TGE Southerners around the social concerns of housing and homelessness – this work also disrupts gendered and racialized narratives about housing injustice, exposing the salience of intersectional discrimination and cisgenderism in housing outcomes for TGE people. Using narrative and visual methods, this dissertation re-presents stories and recommendations from in-depth interview data collected from a small qualitative sample of Southern TGE …

Moonshine Babies, Arghavan Heydareslam

Theses and Dissertations

Moonshine Babies is a two-screen film made of collage/cut-out stop-motion and live-action. It is a visual poem based on my journals from when I recently started living in the US as an outsider. The experience left me feeling divided between the empty present and memories of the past. suggesting that there are collective memories among a group of interconnected individuals that unite them within a single narrative.

There was a moment when I asked, "If you are your memories, what does it mean to be somewhere you have no memories of and no one has memories of you there?"

Memories …

Family Rejection And Affirmation Experiences Among Racially And Ethnically Marginalized Youth Who Identify As Transgender And/Or Gender Diverse, Angela Matijczak

Theses and Dissertations

Relationships with family members can be a vital source of support, and significant stressor, that contributes to mental health outcomes among transgender and gender diverse young adults who are racially and ethnically marginalized (TGD REMY). Guided by a life history narrative approach, this qualitative study explored family affirmation and rejection among TGD REMY across three aims: (a) how TGD REMY define their experiences of family rejection and/or affirmation, (b) whether and how experiences of rejection/affirmation change throughout the lifetime, and (c) whether and how experiences of rejection/affirmation differ by each family member. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 TGD REMY …

Successful Lebanese Women Leaders In Higher Education, Lina Safa

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study investigated the success strategies of Lebanese women leaders in higher education, a sector where they have historically faced underrepresentation. It examined the evolution of women’s roles in this field, highlighting the progress and ongoing challenges related to gender biases and societal constraints in Lebanon. The research employed a phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences of these leaders, focusing on how they navigate cultural norms and societal expectations. Theoretical frameworks like appreciative inquiry, emotional intelligence, and social constructivism were used to analyze their transformative potential within Middle Eastern patriarchal structures. This study aimed to inform policies and …

3ddp Engineering Design Intervention Impacts On Student Perceptions, Attitudes, And Interest Towards Engineering, James Robert Kane

Theses and Dissertations

The study, “3DDP Engineering Design Intervention Impacts on Student Perceptions, Attitudes, and Interest Towards Engineering” explored the impact of a culturally responsive, semi-formal 3D printing (3DDP) intervention on middle school students' perceptions, attitudes, and interest in engineering. The intervention aimed to broaden access to engineering education by providing formative experiences outside traditional classroom settings within the regular school day. A multifaceted approach was employed, utilizing quantitative analysis of assessments and surveys, qualitative analysis of written responses, follow-up interviews, and student-produced artifacts. The intervention functioned as a student-driven engineering club, integrating culturally relevant themes and hands-on activities spanning diverse engineering domains. …

Viewers' Attitudes Towards Analytical And Traditional Commentary Styles In Baseball Broadcasts: A Quasi-Experimental Study, Michael Menhart

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the attitudes of college and non-college athletes on analytical and traditional commentary styles during baseball broadcasts. The attitudes tested were satisfaction and likelihood to watch again (retention). The experiment had two data collection sessions for the athletes and non-athletes where they were exposed to either analytical or traditional commentary. The exposure came through the reading of a fictional scrip based on each style and then the participants were asked to answer questions to test their satisfaction and retention. Through a comprehensive analysis, including independent sample t-tests and two-way ANOVA, the findings revealed a significant main effect for …

Building Resilience, Navigating Crises Since 2019: A Phenomenological Study Of Leadership Factors Influencing Retail Business Owners In Lebanon, Mira Fadel

Theses and Dissertations

The Lebanese population and culture are recognized for their resilience when facing adversity withstanding events such as the Lebanese Civil War, and multiple country invasions. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of retail business owners from different geographical regions and retail types in Lebanon and to identify the leadership factors that kept them resilient while navigating the compounding crises since 2019. The leadership factors included leadership styles, strategies, and agility. The conceptual framework encompassed all leadership factors, the retail industry, cultural context, and resilience. Data for this hermeneutic phenomenology was collected through semi-structured interviews followed …

The Benefits Of Voluntary Disorienting Dilemmas For A Transformational Life: A Grounded Theory Study In Transformational Learning, Rebecca Bamberger

Theses and Dissertations

Being uncomfortable by choice as a means of personal growth has been touted for hundreds of years among scholars, philosophers, religious leaders, modern pop culture icons, and more. Yet, research pertaining to the benefits of being uncomfortable by choice is sparse. This qualitative, grounded theory study addressed the first step of transformational learning: the disorienting dilemma. Seventy participants located in America participated in extensive interviews to answer this study’s research question, “what if any, are the benefits of voluntary disorienting dilemmas?” Additional research questions, “what is the meaning(s) of voluntary disorienting dilemmas?” and “would subjects repeat their voluntary disorienting dilemmas …

Examining The Role Of Cultural Capital In Access And Equity For Female C-Stem Learners Of Color, Tiffany L. Wright

Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to examine the impact of cultural capital (Bourdieu, 1973; Bourdieu & Passeron, 1977) on the access and equity of C-STEM learners of color under the following four tenets of Yosso’s (2005) Community Cultural Wealth model: aspirational, familial, social, and navigational capital. A theoretical framework of Critical Race Theory (CRT; Crenshaw, 1988) was utilized to frame the study. Research questions explore the impacts of cultural capital upon the perceived access and equity of female C-STEM learners. Qualitative methodology guided the study under the integrated approach of Quantitative Ethnography (QE) which examines qualitative data with the support of statistical …

I Am New But Social: How And When Different Types Of Social Networks Influence Newcomers' Organizational Socialization, Yihua Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effect of various types of social networks on socialization among newcomers in organizations. First, it determined how horizontal networks impact relationship morale among newcomers. The study discovered a positive relationship between horizontal networks and newcomers’ relationship morale. When newcomers successfully build positive social connections with existing employees, they actively contribute to achieving organizational goals. These horizontal networks also foster the self-efficacy necessary for newcomers to effectively carry out their duties. Since newcomers often lack knowledge of the organizational culture, these networks provide valuable insights, enabling quick and effective assimilation into the organization. The study also examined …

Immigrant Mothers: A Testimonio, Brenda Garcia Castro

Theses and Dissertations

International immigration creates economic, demographic, and cultural shifts worldwide. The process of migration entails steps beginning from the decision to migrate, the migration journey and experiences upon arrival to the host country. Factors such as age at time of migration, traditions, and beliefs of those who migrate inform various aspects of their lives, such as parenting practices. Once in the new country, immigrants face various challenges and stressors such as discrimination, acculturation, language barriers and lack of opportunities due to legal status. These stressors are often compounded with existing pre-migration trauma that result in higher risk of mental health concerns …

Promoting Interaction In The Hybrid Learning Environment: Challenges And Solutions For International Students In Higher Education, Yi Lu

Theses and Dissertations

In the years 2020 and 2021, a total of 1,142,352 international students pursued their higher education degrees in the U.S. (SEVIS, 2022), many learning in English for the very first time. International students benefit from interaction in the classroom to support their learning and continued English language development (Loewen & Sato, 2018). The interaction hypothesis (IH) is a helpful lens to consider language interaction in a variety of learning environments (Long, 1996). More specifically, the IH suggests that modifications and negotiations made during conversational interaction help language learners process input. Although the IH has traditionally focused on the traditional face-to-face …

Latent Profiles Of Child Coping And Perception Of Experience Processes To Predict Long-Term Symptoms Of Depression, Intrusive Grief, And Suicidality Outcomes In Parentally Bereaved Children, Rebecca Hoppe

Theses and Dissertations

Childhood bereavement is a significant public health issue and the most distressing form of childhood trauma. The death of a parent can disrupt the course of a children's development and potentially predispose them to enduring adverse mental health outcomes, such as depression, intrusive grief, and suicidality. Recognizing grief as a dynamic process, theories have suggested that children’s unique coping and perceptions of experience can contribute to variations in individual adaptations to the death and the onset of mental health problems. The goals of this study were to (a) use latent profile analysis to empirically group recently bereaved children into distinct …

Exploring The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Suicidality In College And University Students: A Systematic Review, Tatyana Aposhian

Theses and Dissertations

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and suicidality are highly prevalent and increasing social problems among the college and university student population, thereby underscoring a need to better understand the relationship between ACEs and suicidal risk, ideation, and attempts during college. There is also a need to examine current suicide prevention and intervention programs for the extent to which they are ACE- and/or trauma-informed. The purpose of this quantitative systematic review with narrative synthesis is to elucidate findings regarding the relationship between ACEs and suicidality in undergraduate and graduate students across the globe and provide recommendations for future ACE-informed suicide prevention and …

My Secret Struggle: Starving, Purging, And Numbing My Emotions. An Autoethnographic Analysis Of My Lifelong Battle With Anxiety, Depression, And Eating Disorders, Hasmek G. Siwajian

Theses and Dissertations

Adolescent females and young adult women between the ages of 12 and 25 are at a higher risk of engaging in self-destructive and life-threatening behaviors linked to anxiety, depression, and eating disorders when they do not have access to suitable treatment options or coping mechanisms (Garcia et al., 2020). This study highlights the heightened vulnerability of adolescent females and young adult women aged 12 to 25 who engage in self-destructive behaviors associated with anxiety, depression, and eating disorders when adequate treatment options or coping mechanisms are lacking. Through an autoethnographic approach, the researcher delves into her daily struggles and breakthroughs …

Understanding Resilience With Chinese Emerging Adults Who Had Early Relational Trauma: An Integrative Systematic Review, Yuen Wu

Theses and Dissertations

This integrative systematic review aimed to enhance understanding of resilience among Chinese emerging adults with early relational trauma by synthesizing available information on how culture is incorporated into the conceptualization, measurement, and interpretation of resilience in the current body of literature. By utilizing a qualitative content analysis approach, the researcher identified main ways in which resilience was conceptualized, assessment tools used to assess, and culturally-specific elements in conceptualizing and understanding resilience. Analysis results indicated the static way of conceptualization was most common among other ways of conceptualizing. Results also revealed that the majority of literature incorporated culture in their conceptualizations …

Voluntary Employee Turnover And The Engagement Perception Of Responsibility, Troy Duerr

Theses and Dissertations

This research project investigates voluntary employee turnover and perceptions of engagement responsibility within organizations. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the US workforce experienced significant pressures. Through qualitative research with semi-structured interviews of 15 professionals, key themes influencing engagement and disengagement were identified. These themes include leadership, recognition, role autonomy, team collaboration, unmet career promises, and poor communication. Participants represented various industries, from Fortune 10 companies to family-owned businesses, and held roles from individual contributors to divisional leaders. This research offers both theoretical advancements and practical solutions, emphasizing the necessity of shared responsibility between employees and organizations in managing …

Organization Change Processes In U.S. Protestant Churches: A Comparative Case Study Analysis, Leslie Mulder

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores organization change processes in three U.S. Protestant churches through a comparative case study analysis, emphasizing the role of Religious Institutional Entrepreneurs (RIEs). The research identifies key factors and conditions contributing to change, focusing on how shifts in collective narratives, generative metaphors, and strategic conversations are associated with transformation. External shocks, strategic partnerships, and adaptive leadership emerged as crucial elements in fostering change. Challenges such as emotional impacts of conflict, structural alignment and urgency-based decisions were also noted. The study highlights the balance between innovation and tradition, the importance of inclusive and reflective community engagement, and the optimization …

The Sacred And The Secular: The Impact Of Gender And Religiosity On Leadership, Carol Lusk

Theses and Dissertations

Despite strides, women remain underrepresented in leadership positions, a disparity that invites a deeper understanding of underlying factors, including the unexamined influence of religiosity. An explanatory sequential mixed methodological approach revealed unique insights. Among a nationally representative sample of men and women (n = 1150), the quantitative analysis suggested that religiosity contributed to the leadership journey for men, but the relationships were more complex for women. Religious women of all ages were more motivated to lead than non-religious women. However, once age was considered, non-religious women attained higher leadership positions than religious women. The qualitative phase, consisting of 12 interviews …

The Strong Black Woman Schema, Wellness Outcomes, And Mental Health Interventions: An Integrative Systematic Review, Breanna Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Black women have a unique sociocultural and historical context that impacts their health. Research indicates that the Strong Black Woman schema (SBWS) can serve as a coping strategy for the specific array of stressors faced by Black women. The primary aim of this integrative systematic review was to explore the associations between Strong Black Woman schema and wellness/health outcomes, and to review the available or emerging SBWS-related interventions targeting wellness and mental health for Black women. This review posed the questions: (1) What health/wellness outcomes have been identified or hypothesized to be related to the SBWS? (2) What relationships between …

Racialized Lived Experience And Equitable Decision-Making Among Philanthropic Leaders: A Narrative Inquiry, Janae Asali Oliver

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored the influence of racialized lived experiences (RLEs) on equitable decision-making among philanthropic leaders, employing a narrative inquiry approach. It examined how diversity within philanthropy, beyond tokenistic representation, can introduce a wide range of perspectives that enhance equitable decision-making processes. The study emphasized the significance of RLEs in philanthropic leadership and decision-making, despite potential institutional constraints on grant processes. Twenty philanthropic leaders from various backgrounds, including private and family foundations, community foundations, and corporate social responsibility initiatives, participated in the study. Utilizing a critical race conceptual and theoretical framework, the researcher analyzed philanthropic leader’s narratives of race, …

Heat Shields And Friendship Bracelets: Features That Enable Effective Employee Resource Groups, Kevin Sakamoto

Theses and Dissertations

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are a potentially powerful means of addressing inequalities and improving working conditions for underrepresented groups in organizations. However, little attention has been given to the motivation of employees who voluntarily donate their time in support of their ERG. The fact that membership in ERGs often coincides with a social identity group (e.g., Asian American) adds a dimension not associated with other non-formal groups (e.g., softball team) within an organization, and may increase the potential for ERGs to achieve valued outcomes. Drawing from academic literature on Social Identity Theory (SIT), employee voice, and activism, this qualitative study …

The Incoherence Of Orientalists, Sarah Zaid Alafifi

Theses and Dissertations

Orientalism, the Western practice of fetishizing cultures, extends beyond mere misrepresentation of the “other;” it epitomizes the underlying structures of colonialism and imperialism, infiltrating everyday life and eroding the moral fabric of Islamic society.

This thesis analyzes colonial control through the exercise of political power and the production of knowledge, investigating key events related to Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign and the narratives of resistance that emerged in opposition to it.

Through the lens of this 18th-century expedition, the study examines how Western knowledge systematically contributed to the dismantling of Islamic systems of knowledge. Select phrases from Colonial-era printed proclamations are extracted …

A Bioarchaeological Overview Of The Late Woodland Period Gooden Mound Group, Fulton County, Illinois, Aaron M. Durchholz

Theses and Dissertations

Extensive research in paleopathology has documented adverse effects accompanying a shift in subsistence strategy from largely nomadic, hunting and gathering lifestyles to those of more sedentary, agrarian systems. Comparative assessment of the human skeletal remains of early foragers and later farmers recovered from archaeological sites around the world have consistently demonstrated a decrease in average age at death in the latter.

Across the pre-Columbian North American Midwest, the transitional period between the Late Woodland and Mississippian periods, sometimes referred to as the terminal or Mississippian Acculturated Late Woodland, portended establishment of semi-permanent to permanent hamlets, increasingly reliant upon the adoption …

Female Genital Cutting In Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Kenya: A Qualitative Interview Study, Melon Jepchumba Tanui

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study focuses on women from Elgeyo-Marakwet county in Kenya, several of whom have undergone what has come to be referred to by the Western world as “female genital mutilation” (FGM). This procedure “involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia” or inflicting any other damaging injury on “the female genital organs for non-medical reasons” (WHO 2022: para. 1). The residents of this county are Kalenjin speakers of Keiyo and Marakwet sub-dialects. The ceremonial process, which lasts from days to a month, is called Tumdop Tibiik, meaning the initiation of girls. (For definitions of Kalenjin …

Systems Check: A Qualitative Case Study Of Educators And Parent-Educators Supporting Adolescent Readers From An Ecological Systems Perspective, Kristi Nicole Grooms

Theses and Dissertations

In spite of decades of research and an abundance of well-intentioned intervention efforts, supporting adolescent readers, particularly at the middle level, remains a significant area of concern for educators in the United States. The struggles are present for educators working to help underperforming readers reach grade-level and keep advanced readers motivated and engaged. At home, parents and guardians experience similar challenges. Data on adolescent comprehension performance continues to be frustrating in terms of producing consistent positive results. This qualitative action research study investigated the ongoing challenge of supporting adolescent readers, specifically within the context of 7th grade, through a systems …

Strategic Framework For Achieving Successful Sustainable Tourism In Egypt, Maher Abdelwahab

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of tourism leaders who operate a tour operator company in Egypt. It sought to examine how the lack of collaborative leadership adversely affects tourism. The study further investigated the challenges the tourism industry faces, and the strategies tour companies’ leaders use to achieve successful sustainable tourism. The study revealed the connection between the challenges, strategies, competitiveness, factors of success, and recommendations to create a strategic framework for successful sustainable tourism. The strategic framework promoted collective tourism leadership and sustainable tourism as significant economic drive in Egypt to reduce poverty, develop society, and bring …

The Examination Of Workplace Well-Being In The Context Of Conversations On Artificial Intelligence, Haille Trimboli

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the relationship between technological advancements in the workplace, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), and employee well-being. As the use of AI in organizational practices increases, this study sought to examine how fostering social connections, primarily through AI-focused conversations, could enhance employee well-being amid these technological shifts. This research employed a mixed-methods framework with an embedded convergent core design to collect qualitative and quantitative data from employees at a global organization that made recent, significant investments in AI. This methodology integrated pre- and post-intervention surveys to assess changes in employee well-being and an analysis of team discussions about AI …