Digital Commons Network^™

Role Model Development In Young African American Males : Toward A Conceptual Model, Christian Edward Gale

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This theoretical study explores the impact of role models on the adolescent African American male identity development. The study examines the current vulnerable status of African American males in the United States and reveals how they are presently at an overwhelming disadvantage to lead fulfilling and productive lives. In order to understand the phenomenon, this study utilizes literature on general identity development, male identity development, and ethnic identity development, in order to investigate how African American males define themselves and how role models can impact their identity development. Since there is some evidence in current literature that imitation and modeling …

Sometimes Love Ain't Enough : A Study Of The Perceived Relationship Barriers As Reported By 12 Heterosexual African American Women And Men, Stephanie Harris

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The goals of the current study were to explore what barriers African American men and women experience in their past and/or current relationships and to explore in what way, if any, thesis issues correspond with those issues reported by White Americans. This researcher also wanted to examine if gender role issues and racism have contributed to the problems faced by African Americans couples. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 African American men and women, all of whom had a past and/or current heterosexual relationship of two years or longer. Interview questions focused on the troubling issues in the relationship, perceived …

The Space Between : Transracial Adoptee's Racial Identity And The Role Parents Play In Identity Development, Kristen Denise Mccully

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study explored how transracial adoptees perceive their racial identity and the role that parents play in identity development. In particular, people who participated in this study were asked to reflect on the messages they received about their racial/ethnic identity and how racism may have played into these messages. Interviews were conducted with 12 transracial adoptees who were over the age of 18 at the time of the study. Participants were asked questions about the diversity of the neighborhoods in which they grew up; how their parents recognized their race/ethnicity; how their parents contributed to their racial identity development; how …

Women's Attitudes And Perceptions About Sexual Fantasy And How It Relates To Sexual Satisfaction In A Committed Relationship, Jillian Marie Weis

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This quantitative study was completed to explore how women's attitudes and perceptions regarding sexual fantasy are related to sexual satisfaction in a committed relationship. Previous research on sexual fantasy focused on frequency of sexual fantasy, gender differences regarding themes of sexual fantasy, level of guilt associated with sexual fantasy, and the acceptance of pornography as sexual fantasy. The survey was presented on the Internet based website, Survey Monkey. Over the course of 30 days, 129 women responded to the survey. The survey included fourteen items that ranged from demographic questions to questions regarding attitudes towards fantasy, and open-ended questions. The …

Combat-Related Trauma : An Historical Analysis Through A Biopsychosocial Lens, Jamie Lynn Loveland

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to historically examine the biopsychosocial effects of combat-related trauma in veterans with the purpose of guiding treatment. The evolution of the combat-related trauma diagnosis from WWI to present conditions in Iraq and Afghanistan was examined, inclusive of etiology, symptomatology, pathology, and treatment interventions as understood through a biological, psychological and social perspective. Clinical social workers are well aware that new ideas with regards to treatment methodology do not occur in a vacuum. To be considered and accepted they must be compatible with existing ideas created through other sciences, technological advancement, economic conditions, political climate, …

Breast Cancer Survivors' Views Of How Support Groups And Activism Have Affected Their Healing Process, Elizabeth M. Burnworth

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore what effects participation in breast cancer support groups and activism had on the lives of breast cancer survivors. The effects of activism and support group participation on healing and the meanings women made of their experiences were documented through women's voices. Themes of general support and outlook on life were also explored. Through the use of in-depth, open-ended, qualitative interviews, twelve women were invited to tell the stories of their illness, activism, and healing. The findings of this study confirmed previous studies, which document the importance of support for breast cancer survivors …

Oh God Where Art Thou? : Does A Relationship To The Divine Help Women From Diverse Religious And Spiritual Backgrounds Make Meaning In The Aftermath Of Intimate Partner Violence? : Implications For Clinical Social Work, Lori Lucia. Donley

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study was undertaken in response to recommendations for further investigation by previous researchers regarding resiliency and vulnerability concerning recovery from trauma survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) relevant to their religious and spiritual belief systems. Nine female IPV survivors, who had successfully exited the abusive relationship and identified as actively involved in a religious and/or spiritual tradition were interviewed. Three psychotherapists were interviewed who had professional experience treating this population. A qualitative research design was adopted in order to gather data from subjects considered to be experts in their own experience. Semi-structured open-ended interviews were conducted and coded. Major …

Eastern European Adoption : A Theoretical Study Of Attachment Disorder Through A Self Psychology Lens, Andrea Leadbetter Larkin

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This theoretical research paper focuses on both attachment theory and self psychology to examine the consequences institutions have on infant mental health. The research specifically addresses Eastern European institution infants that develop reactive attachment disorder. The research discusses the current treatment solutions for reactive attachment disorder using the two aforementioned theoretical lenses. Institution infants are an important target for research because the pathogenic care provided by institutions inherently disrupts the infants early attachment needs. The findings of this study were as follows: 1) It would benefit potential adoptive parent to participate in educational training about reactive attachment disorder. 2) Adoptees …

The Revaluation Of Pathology : Narrative, Nietzsche And The Emergence Of The Storied Body :, Jenessa Margaret Radocchio

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This research project is a theoretical inquiry into the connections and significations between philosophy and contemporary clinical practice. It is hypothesized that postmodernism has a direct and meaningful impact on the work of clinical social workers and mental health professionals generally. For a more manageable study and to make the topic more accessible to the reader, one type of philosophy (postmodernism) was chosen to be analyzed, along with its clinical counterpart (narrative therapy). To ground the study, Nietzschean ideology and narrative therapy were analyzed and discussed through the lens of self-mutilation. It was found that many significant connections exist between …

Middle School Teachers' Perceptions Of Their Schools' Formal And Informal Administrative Policies On Children Labeled With Behavioral Problems, Tierra Danielle Watkins

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This exploratory qualitative study was undertaken to identify teachers' perceptions of the formal and informal administrative policies that are used to identify children as having behavioral problems. Additionally, it sought to identify their thoughts regarding the administrative policies on children who have been identified as having behavioral problems. Middle school teachers in the public school system who have at least three years teaching experience were recruited from Philadelphia and New York City Public School Districts. Twelve teachers participated in the study. Participation included answering a demographic questionnaire as well as sitting for a taped interview in which questions were asked …

Understanding The Issues Of Hiv/Aids And Adolescents Through The Concerns, Perceptions, And Recommendations Of Adult Service Providers To The Teen Population Of Rhode Island, Oriana Mae. Campanelli

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to gain further understanding of the attitudes of teens and their service providers toward the HIV/AIDS crisis, currently affecting large numbers of mostly black and Hispanic male and female adolescents engaged in heterosexual sexual relationships. This study focused on adult providers of services to adolescents in Rhode Island in order to gain a clearer understanding of the complex psychosocial issues of a complex disease, and a complex age group, including the special vulnerabilities of at-risk adolescents, and to explore what efforts at prevention and early treatment are being carried out, what efforts are recommended, …

Factors Affecting Help-Seeking Behaviors For Mental Health Services Among Filipino Americans, Melissa Dimalanta Camorongan

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study explored help-seeking behaviors for mental health services among Filipino Americans. Filipinos are the second largest Asian American population in the United States and have been identified as one of the high-risk Asian American groups for mental disorders. Yet as a population they remain understudied and underserved. Existing studies are quantitative and have been conducted on college age students that are transitioning to adulthood. We know little about the help-seeking behavior for mental health services among Filipino Americans in adulthood and in their own voice. This study involved face-to-face interviews with a sample of 12 persons of Filipino …

Primary Caregiving Fathers : I Was An Interloper In A Woman's World, Meghan L. Cavanaugh

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study sought to ascertain how fathers who are primary caregivers understand their roles as fathers and caregivers. This qualitative, exploratory study aimed to expand the body of knowledge on primary caregiving fathers, which has, to date, largely focused on outcomes-based research. Heterosexual, married men with children under five years of age, who had been primary caregivers for at least six months, were recruited from Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New York. Twelve primary caregiving fathers participated in this study. Questions focused on such topics as: 1) the decision-making process; 2) what the participants understood their roles as fathers and primary …

Do Personality And Other Individual Differences Affect The Development Of Post Traumatic Stress Symptoms In Male Police Officers?, Megan Kane. Myers

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study was undertaken to determine whether personality and other individual differences such as age, race, combat military experience, police experience, job assignment, and job satisfaction were associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms in male police officers. Secondly, I sought to determine if there a police personality distinct from that of the general population. Questionnaire packets containing three instruments were distributed to 109 male police officers. Thirty officers completed and returned the study materials which included: a demographic questionnaire; a personality inventory to assess the domains of neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness; and a trauma scale to assess …

Dealing With Migration Loss : The Resilience Of Latinas And Their Coping Strategies, Aurora Perales

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study was undertaken to discover resiliency factors and coping strategies utilized by Latinas in dealing with migration loss. Research conducted on people of color and particularly on women is limited. Strengths-based research on these communities is also minimal available. This study aimed to address the various gaps of information. Twelve Latinas with diverse ethnic backgrounds were interviewed. The women demonstrated an ability to articulate their experiences with migration loss and an ability to identify coping strategies. The participants of the study utilized many resiliency tools and coping strategies in order to survive and thrive in spite of having endured …

Parental Childhood Sexual Abuse : Trauma-Specific Effects On Therapists, Rebecca Elizabeth Randall

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore how working with clients who have experienced the specific trauma of parental childhood sexual abuse impacts the therapist. Most of the literature on vicarious traumatization dose not differentiate between trauma-specific affects of working with particular populations of trauma survivors. The sample for this qualitative study was comprised of twelve licensed clinicians who had worked with a minimum of five survivors of parental childhood sexual. The major findings of the study were that there are trauma-specific risks for vicarious traumatization when working with survivors of parental childhood sexual abuse because of the degree …

The Efficacy Of Narrative Therapy Approaches With Self-Injurious Clients, Erica H. Johnson

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study was undertaken to determine the efficacy of narrative therapy approaches with self-injurious clients. Self-injury is an issue gaining momentum, particularly among adolescent clients. Narrative therapy is a therapeutic technique that has gained popularity globally in the last several decades, due to its movement away from the expert mentality in mental health care. Both self-injury and narrative therapy are issues with limited research available. Fourteen clinicians trained in narrative therapy approaches were interviewed in a qualitative research design. The results of twelve of the interviews were utilized in the findings and two interviews were not included in the studies' …

A Relational-Exploratory Study : How Attitudes Towards Deafness Affect Quality Of Behavioral Health Services Provided To The Deaf/Deaf/Hard Of Hearing Client, Ann Haseltine. Tarmey

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study utilized a relational-exploratory design in an attempt to develop a clearer understanding of how attitudes towards deafness are related to potential quality of services rendered. It was hypothesized that amount of contact or level of knowledge of deafness might affect attitudes. It was inferred that attitudes that are more positive would result in more appropriate services, and attitudes that are more negative would result in less appropriate services. The sample was compromised of students at the undergraduate and graduate level as well as experienced clinicians recruited from a community mental health center in rural New Hampshire (N=86). Participants …

A Comparative Qualitative Study Of Marianismo : Mexican And Mexican American Women's Perspectives On Their Latina Values, Women's Roles And Their Parents' Influence, Jennifer Marie Vazquez

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The research study had three goals. First, the study explored and compared adherence to Marianismo values in Mexican women born in Mexico and Mexican- American women born in the U.S. The hypothesis was that Mexican women would endorse more Marianismo values because Mexican-American women who are born, raised and educated in the U.S. are more likely to adopt more American values. Second, the study gathered and compared the women's perspectives on cultural differences between U.S. and Latino culture views of the women's role. Third, the study sought to further understand the relationship between acculturation and Marianismo to ascertain differences and …

Libraries And The Balance Of Liberty And Security, David E. Woolwine

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The USA Patriot Act has presented librarians with the dilemma of balancing national security against the freedom of access to information and the protection of confidentiality of library records. The paper examines forms of argumentation put forth by the American Library Association in its defense of access and confidentiality rights. It finds that utilitarianism and rights discourse are the most dominant forms of ethical reasoning in the ALA and suggests that these might be replaced or supplemented by other forms of reasoning. Modernist notions as well as postmodernist views are explored and a synthesis of the two positions is offered. …

The Bg News September 6, 2007, Bowling Green State University

BG News (Student Newspaper)

The BGSU campus student newspaper. September 6, 2007. Volume 98-Issue 14.

After The Crash: Citizens' Perceptions Of Connective-Tissue Injury Lawsuits, Valerie P. Hans, Nicole Vadino

Cornell Law Faculty Publications

Even though automobile accident cases comprise a substantial portion of the state jury trial caseload, the humble automobile case has attracted minimal scholarly attention. However, many members of the public believe that whiplash, a connective-tissue or soft-tissue injury from auto accidents, is oftentimes fraudulent. To explore public perceptions, a national survey included a scenario experiment that varied types of minor injuries from an automobile accident. As predicted, the plaintiff who experienced a bone fracture was seen as more likely to be suffering a real injury than a plaintiff who reported suffering from a connective-tissue injury. The fracture was also viewed …

Student-Athletes And Involvement Theory, Thomas F. J. Iacovone

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to better understand the level of involvement student athletes have at Rowan University. The researcher surveyed 99 student athletes at Rowan University during the 2006-2007 academic year. The subjects were administered a survey to measure their level of involvement, as well as their attitudes toward involvement at Rowan University. Surveys were statistically analyzed to determine frequency, percentages, means, standard deviations, and significant correlations between selected demographics and specific involvement activities.

The study provides insight on the relationship between student athletes' academic performance and their level of involvement, as well as insight on relationships between …

Daily Eastern News: September 05, 2007, Eastern Illinois University

September

No abstract provided.

Frederick, Stephen D. Interview For The Miami Valley College Of Nursing And Health Oral History Project, Carol Holdcraft, Stephen D. Frederick

Wright State University - Miami Valley College of Nursing and Health Oral History Project

Carol Holdcraft interviewed Stephen D. Frederick about the founding of the Wright State University College of Nursing and Health. In the interview Dr. Frederick discusses his career and his decision to come to Wright State as faculty with College of Education and the College of Nursing and Health.

September 5, 2007 Faculty Senate Minutes, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

No abstract provided.

September 5th 2007, Hispanic News

Inland Empire Hispanic News

No abstract provided.

Prospectus, September 5, 2007, Kathleen Serino, Chuck Shepherd, Shane Swearingen, Mandy Robinson, Beth Voigt, Cameron Brown, Michael Laird

Prospectus 2007

No abstract provided.

Central Florida Future, Vol. 39 No. 110, September 5, 2007

Central Florida Future

2 injured in hit-and-run on Alafaya; Hitt: '08 looking worse fiscally; A rush to rush; Glitch delays football tix lottery; $750 in tuition offered at 1st game.

Volume 45, Number 3: September 05, 2007, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.