Digital Commons Network^™

How Political Elite Leverage Twitter To Polarize America, Woodson Morris Hobbs V

Theses and Dissertations

While social media has changed how humans use the internet, Twitter has drastically reformed how individuals worldwide receive their news. As news outlets fail to keep up with the rapid dissemination of information online, Twitter has become a sounding board for the political elite who leverage the platform's immediacy and virality. This study, using Quantitative Ethnography's Epistemic Network Analysis, seeks to determine if the political elite, specifically members of Congress, are leveraging Twitter to spread polarizing information to strengthen their base. In this study, extensive coding of select members of the 118th Congress was completed and compared to Voteview.com's DW-Nominate …

A Systematic Review Of Risk And Protective Factors For Mental Health Among Latinx College Students, Melissa Gavilanes

Theses and Dissertations

A quantitative studies systematic review with narrative synthesis was conducted to explore the risk and protective factors among Latinx college students’ mental health. This systematic review also aimed to identify the relevant demographic variability to the mental health of Latinx college students, and the relationship between mental health and academic performance within this population. Data was collected from four electronic databases and included peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2022, conducted within the United States, participants over the age of 17, and samples comprised of or including Latinx college students. Studies utilizing quantitative designs, and quantitative portions of mixed method …

Psychological Safety During The Covid-19 Pandemic Restrictions-A U.S. Healthcare Context, Mary Jean Brown

Theses and Dissertations

The pandemic forced many employees to transition to remote work, leading to concerns about the economic impact and inequities between remote and on-site workers. The shift to remote work has raised psychological safety issues, work-life balance, and employee engagement. The virtual workspace created during the pandemic has highlighted communication challenges, interpersonal dynamics, and maintaining boundaries between work and personal life. Through a quantitative approach, this study explored changes in perceived psychological safety, its relation to the psychosocial impact of COVID-19, and demographic factors, offering the opportunity to gain insights into this unprecedented experience during a global pandemic. Findings showed that …

The Success Strategies Of The Iranian-American Women Who Initially Received Their Primary And/Or Secondary Education In The Post-Revolution Iranian Education System In Attaining Higher Education Degrees In The United States, Niloufar Mirhashemi

Theses and Dissertations

The driving theme for this research was cultural discontinuity as experienced in the American academic institutions. Cultural discontinuity is understood as a way in which the cultural practices and values of students’ home culture affect the academic achievements of the students usually, resulting in low academic accomplishments. This phenomenon can be triggered by the existing disparities and gaps in the educational and cultural structures of a society. This research investigated the encounters, challenges, and perspectives of women born in Iran who initially received their primary and/or secondary education in the post-revolution Iranian education system and later obtained college degrees in …

Beyond The Classroom: Unraveling The Impact Of Student Engagement On Graduation Rates In New York City, Kimberly Mccall

Theses and Dissertations

This study critically examined the impact of student engagement on high school graduation rates amidst the educational disruptions ushered in by the COVID-19 pandemic, with a concentrated focus on the United States. It evaluated the essential engagement factors--rigorous instruction, collaborative teaching, supportive environments, and trust--and their role in addressing disparities in graduation outcomes (New York City Panorama, 2022; Wang & Degol, 2014). Anchored in the theoretical frameworks of Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory (Bronfenbrenner, 1979), social-emotional learning theory (Durlak et al., 2011; Williamson et al., 2015), and Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory (Vygotsky, 1987), this research utilized a comprehensive quantitative analysis of data …

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 Latina Career Journey: Experiences Of Latinas In Accounting, Alba Ruth Prato

Theses and Dissertations

Latina voices remain largely silent in the scholarship on leadership, and their representation in leadership roles lags behind other minority and majority groups. This research explored the Latina career journey through in-depth narrative interviews with 19 Latinas who told the stories of how they carry out their role, act on opportunities, navigate between cultures, and overcome challenges. Through comprehensive qualitative analysis using a grounded theory approach, a theoretical framework emerged that brings to light the larger social and cultural forces that impact the management arena and function as levers that, when activated, hinder and facilitate the emergence of Latina leaders. …

Navigating Embodied Self-Awareness States To Produce Work-Enhancing Adaptive Stress Responses, Kristina Banfield

Theses and Dissertations

Work-related stress is increasingly problematic for middle managers and executives, leading to escalating problems of burnout, turnover, diminished performance, and compromised well-being. However, given the same stressor, differential outcomes are observable across individuals, ranging from paralysis to agitation, and even enhanced performance. Individuals’ responses to stress are strongly influenced by their mental models, physiology, and nervous systems—all of which can be deliberately modulated to promote more adaptive stress responses. The purpose of this study was to examine managers’ experiences of their modulated self-awareness states to optimize their stress response for work performance. A purposive sample of 10 senior managers and …

Addressing Inappropriate Polypharmacy: Investigating Perceived Facilitators And Barriers To U.S. Pharmacists' Ability To Recommend Deprescribing, Susanne Steiner

Theses and Dissertations

While the concurrent use of multiple prescriptions (polypharmacy) is common for those with chronic conditions, professional ownership is lacking when it comes to tapering or discontinuing potentially inappropriate medications. Our growing elderly population is especially vulnerable to negative risks associated with polypharmacy. Pharmacists are highly educated and skilled healthcare professionals working as critical touchpoints with patients; yet they are not empowered to deprescribe potentially inappropriate medications directly. This qualitative research study examined the perceived barriers and facilitators pharmacists encounter when pursuing deprescribing recommendations and initiatives with prescribers, healthcare staff, patients, and caregivers. Findings from this study revealed three key implications …

Exploring Teachers' Mastery And Use Of Minecraft In The Classroom A Survey Of The Minecraft Teachers, Hae Ryung Rinpoche Kim

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the dynamic interplay of social constructivism, game-based learning, and communities of practice in the context of teachers using Minecraft as an educational tool. This study used a teacher survey to collect insights from teachers who use Minecraft and are members of the Minecraft Teachers’ Lounge. The research investigated how teachers learn to use Minecraft, the resources that support their learning journey, and the factors influencing their confidence in utilizing game-based learning tools. The findings highlighted the significance of collaborative learning environments, experiential learning approaches, and ongoing professional development opportunities for teachers using technology-enhanced tools like Minecraft. The …

Veterans, Providers, Moral Injury, And The Integration Of Spirituality In Clinical Care, Claire Muldrew

Theses and Dissertations

Moral Injury (MI) is known to be prevalent among military populations, however, the integration of spirituality into the treatment of veterans with trauma/posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an understudied topic. This systematic review sought to explore how mental health clinicians and chaplains view the integration of spirituality in the course of clinical care with traumatized veterans who experience MI. Utilizing qualitative methodology, the existing knowledge base was studied to shed light on this topic and to also identify the similarities and differences between these types of providers. The meta-aggregation approach was applied to analysis of the available data and a …

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 …

An Examination Of The Facilitators And Barriers For Implementing Environmental Sustainability Plans Into Corporate Strategy, Nathan Maton

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how organizations integrate environmental sustainability and corporate strategy, describing that intersection as strategic sustainability. The goal of the study was to use qualitative interviews of public American corporations to understand the facilitators and barriers to strategic sustainability. The study identified three facilitators (i.e., emerging regulations, customer demand, and leadership) and two barriers (i.e., data quality and education). These results suggest corporations leverage upcoming regulations, leaders who advocate for sustainability, and customer demand to embed sustainability while improving their education and data quality. Additionally, the research suggests more quantitative research and validation of the results.

Fostering A Culture Of Belonging Within Women Working In A Hybrid Environment, Jam Narte Harley

Theses and Dissertations

This research discusses the opportunity presented by the post-pandemic return to work to support Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging initiatives by creating a new belonging framework for women working in a hybrid environment. The transition to remote and hybrid work arrangements amid the pandemic highlighted the importance of leaders tackling ongoing challenges in leadership and management, such as digital transformation and remote management, which led to rapid change, anxiety, and uncertainty. The lack of daily contact has significantly impacted workplace relationships and highlighted the importance of belongingness for employees' well-being and retention. Hybrid work arrangements are likely to become a …

The Power Of Organizational Purpose In Customer Engagement, Claudio Ludovisi

Theses and Dissertations

In a hyperconnected world, direct customer engagement is becoming a significant competitive advantage. Technologies like database marketing, social media, personalization, and artificial intelligence are widely available to create and support direct relationships with customers at scale; yet, as evidenced by the unabated rise in marketing and paid media costs, firms continue to use third parties to engage their audiences. At the same time, organizational purpose has been shown to drive firm value, but majority of research has focused on internal dynamics of purpose rather than its effect on external stakeholders and customers in particular. Very little has been empirically studied …

Cybersecurity—The Human Element, James Mcgibney

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study’s objective was to review the existing initiatives for cybersecurity awareness and training that are in place for the K-12 education system throughout the United States. Every facet of life is now plagued by the potential, perceived, and real threat of cyber warfare, which includes, but is not limited to, K-12 schools throughout the United States. Massive cascading effects result from cybersecurity breaches, and some are so severe that the targeted organization is forced to shut down. The digital anatomy of these massive hacks' origins is sometimes overlooked in their context. Even if they have the best intrusion …

Best Practices Of Information Technology Project Managers Leading Agile Projects, Anshu Singh Lal

Theses and Dissertations

Within software development, various methodologies are leveraged to structure the software development process. Among these methodologies, the waterfall and agile models are most popular. Historically, in software development, the waterfall methodology has been applied to IT projects and project management has aligned with this plan-driven approach. Recently, due to its flexible nature, software development trends have resulted in an increased adoption of the agile methodology within organizations. The Agile methodology is an incremental, iterative software development methodology. This approach transforms the larger project into smaller segments that are iteratively developed and delivered for utilization. This methodology is dependent on deliverables …

Student Engagement In Model School Math: A Phenomenological Study Of Student Perspectives At A Model Continuation High School, James Robert Coles Iii

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the perspectives on engagement of students who had passed Model School Math (Integrated Math 1 or Algebra 1) and graduated within the years 2015 to 2019 from a Model Continuation High School in California. This study sought to discover the strategies, policies, and procedures which best supported at-risk students and adequately prepared them for college and career after attending a continuation high school. The theoretical framework used for this study was flow theory. This phenomenological qualitative study was conducted in one school district with students who attended a single site. Each …

Lifting The Voices Of Cisgender Female Survivors Of Sexual Violence: A Systematic Review Of Their Experiences With Formal Support Providers/Systems, Madeleine Walker

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative systematic review aimed to recognize what adult cisgender female survivors of sexual violence said about their experiences with formal support providers upon disclosure and their recommendations to enhance the disclosure process. Using a deductive content analysis of nice qualitative studies, the researcher identified and explored supportive and unsupportive formal support providers’ behaviors. Results indicated that supportive experiences typically involved aspects of both emotional support and tangible aid. Unsupportive experiences mainly focused on how providers responded to and negatively treated cisgender female survivors during the entirety of the investigation process. Also, cultural factors, such as race, gender, ethnicity, and …

Understanding How The Organizational Systems That Select, Promote, And Retain First-Time, Managers Can Be Improved For The Growing Millennial Supervisory Population, Stephanie Castillo

Theses and Dissertations

The success rate for first-time managers is staggeringly low (approximately 40%) during their first 24 months in the role. While various journals and studies have addressed this topic, few have addressed it with a focus on millennial, first-time managers. Given that many millennials are stepping into the role of front-line supervisor, understanding their experience is an important step in understanding how organizational systems can be improved to increase new managers’ success rates. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to understand how to improve the organizational systems that select, promote, and retain first-time managers for the growing millennial supervisory population. …

Making The Middle Matter: Considering Project-Based, Experiential, And Work-Based Instructional Strategies With Middle School Teachers, Trishauna Pulos

Theses and Dissertations

Middle school is about the growth, potential, and change of adolescents. Students at the middle school age level, generally ages 10 to 14, struggle with the dynamics of making the transitions from recess and active learning in elementary school to multiple teachers, bigger workloads and campuses, and larger student populations (Alexander et al., 1969; Howell et al., 2016). For this study, the instructional practices, and strategies of project-based, experiential, and work-based learning are researched including challenges, measurements of growth and success, and recommendations for future educators using these instructional delivery methods (Dincer, 2021; Flannery & Smith, 2021; Kalkan & Dagli, …

Vamc Supervisors’ Perceptions Of Servant Leadership’S Role In Retention, Laticia Swartout

Theses and Dissertations

Servant Leadership is a phenomenon that has existed for centuries and continues to make waves today. While entities using this leadership style are generally non-profits, the United States government has chosen to use it in some of its federal agencies. More specifically, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs enlists Servant Leadership to achieve its organizational goals, like retaining employees. The purpose of this study was to understand the perceptions of the role Servant Leadership plays in assisting supervisors in retaining employees. The research question was: How do supervisors perceive Servant Leadership’s role in retention at the Greater Los Angeles Veterans …

Psychotherapeutic Interventions For Individuals Experiencing Auditory Verbal Hallucinations: A Systematic Review, Keren Shemesh

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this review was to systematically review the available research on psychotherapeutic interventions for individuals experiencing Auditory Verbal Hallucinations (AVH). This review focused on interventions evaluated using Randomized Control Trials (RCTs). Data on the treatment protocols and their efficacy was reviewed, as well as proposed mechanisms of change. Included treatment protocols were evaluated for their attention to culture. Using specific search criteria, 17 studies were identified and evaluated. Out of the 17 included studies, three utilized individual and group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp) as their intervention of choice and six utilized individually created therapies based upon …

The Impact Social Support And Community-Based Programs Have On The Reduction Of Recidivism, Lysa Lynnette Liggins

Theses and Dissertations

Recidivism is defined as the tendency for an individual to relapse into criminal behavior after being incarcerated. This poses a challenge to the criminal justice system and there is a growing recognition of the role that receiving social support plays in decreasing the rate of recidivism. This research provides a comprehensive review of the literature that examines the impact of social support on reducing recidivism. This study reviews and synthesizes findings about community-based programs’ positive impact on formerly incarcerated individuals. Also, it explores the five components of social support: emotional support, informational support, tangible support, networking support, and affirmation of …

An Examination Of Emerging Technologies In Supply Chain Management And Their Impacts On Efficiency In The Automotive Industry, Wafaa A. Barakat

Theses and Dissertations

The automotive supply chain sector is facing immense transformation, particularly with the emerging digital technologies in supply chain management. This paper examines the emerging technologies in supply chain management and their impacts on efficiency in the automotive industry. This research strives to examine the underlying aspects of the automotive supply chain integration in United States companies. For the study, there is the application of the exploratory study. The reason is that there is no vivid perspective of the characteristics and the scope. The study design used is a qualitative analysis of 10 automotive personnel from different multipliers of the automotive …

The Black Experiences Of Education In The Southern United States Of America: Retracing The Geographical Impacts Of Family, History, And Society On Academic Achievement, Chanel L. Fort

Theses and Dissertations

In today's global digital knowledge economy, we need learners to achieve academically toward the expectations of the future of work. Therefore, academic achievement is critical. Yet, academic achievement disparities exist globally. In the United States of America, the Black-White academic achievement gap has persisted since the beginnings of the achievement movement in 1970. The widening gaps of interest for this study focused on the U.S. Black-White achievement differences in the Southern U.S. states. The study analysis was quantitative and used t-test, ANOVA, and multiple regression as the statistical analysis techniques, analyzing the parent, family, community, and regional relationships with Grade …

Cultivating Change: School Leaders Implementing Dei Systems In K-12 Schools, Rosalyn Simone Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in K-12 education are essential to creating an educational environment where every student, staff member, and stakeholder brings unique perspectives, experiences, and skills. K-12 schools are embracing DEI systems as an expression of their diverse populations, cultivating a school culture that celebrates differences and develops an affinity for inclusion. Equity, as the foundation, guarantees all students equal access to opportunities and resources, regardless of their background. Inclusion goes beyond mere representation to make everyone feel appreciated, heard, and empowered. School leaders inspire the school community by fostering a collective vision and dedication to DEI. Establishing …

Empowering Black Women Professors Teaching Within Predominantly White Institutions: Exploring Success Strategies And Best Practices Amidst Challenges, Wendy Perkinson

Theses and Dissertations

Throughout the historical journey of Black women in America, spanning from enslavement (Best, 2015) to activism as abolitionists, advocates for women's suffrage (Sesko & Biernat, 2010), and leadership in civil rights (Rushing, 2021), Black women's resilience shines through amid challenges. This study investigates the phenomenological experiences of Black women professors teaching in predominantly white institutions (PWIs) who are often marginalized because of racial and gender intersectional bias (K.W. Crenshaw, 2017). It explores the challenges these professors endure and examines the success methods they employ to overcome their challenges while discovering their needs for personal and professional success. The study's framework …

Anchored In Faith, Soaked In Blood: Black Social Activists Strategies For Developing Equitable Policy In Education, Civil Rights, And Citizenship, Sharletta Michelle Green

Theses and Dissertations

Religious beliefs and the use of race to create a narrative of inferiority plague education, civil rights, and citizenship policy development and implementation, causing harm to Black citizens. Public education is the bedrock of a democratic society. Civil rights and the ability to exercise those rights within a country are vital elements of citizenship. A well-educated populace provides a country's position and power. Equitable education, civil rights, and the vestiges of full citizenship in the U.S. for Black people have been a constant battle. This fight has been at the forefront of the demands for this nation since Reconstruction. Black …

Parental Engagement In Distance Education: A Phenomenological Study Of Middle School Parents’ Perspectives During Unanticipated School Closures Due To Covid-19, Williams Alberto Olmedo

Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic, a significant disruptor of traditional educational environments, has led to a notable shift in parental involvement in children’s education, particularly in middle schools. This study, therefore, delves into the dynamics of parental engagement during remote learning, focusing on the challenges parents faced and the strategies they employed to support their children's academic needs. The research questions aimed to understand how parents adapted their involvement in their children’s education during the pandemic, and the study also scrutinized successful communication strategies between parents and schools.

Data was collected through interviews with 11 middle school participants to understand how parents …