Digital Commons Network^™

The Problem Of The Twenty-First Century In The Cherokee Nation Is The Problem Of The Color-Line : How The Cherokee Freedmen Have Articulated A Sense Of Cultural Identity And Citizenship Claims Over Time., Shannon Spears

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research investigates the Cherokee Freedmen, who are people of African-American descent and peoples of mixed African-American and Native American descent, who were once enslaved by Cherokees in the Cherokee Nation, and who have articulated their identity and tribal citizenship status as Cherokee Natives in the Cherokee Nation. Upon emancipation, the Cherokee Nation adopted the Cherokee Freedmen as equal citizens in the Cherokee Nation under article nine from the Treaty of 1866, but this changed after citizens were recorded on the Dawes Rolls based upon blood quantum. The theoretical framework of this research is Antonio Gramsci’s theoretical perspective of cultural …

A Social Cognitive Perspective On Opportunity Evaluation., Trayan Kushev

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Very few topics in entrepreneurship have received as much attention as the entrepreneurial process. It consists of the discovery, evaluation and exploitation of opportunities to create future goods and services. Evaluation is at the center of this process because it follows discovery and is the main precursor of the decision to exploit an opportunity. However, we know very little of the factors informing evaluation decisions. Furthermore, research on the topic is limited in that it mostly examines either opportunity-based or individual-based factors in simple models of evaluation. Of course, evaluation decisions are more sophisticated and include a plethora of other …

Critical Thinking Structures For Business Ethics., Brian G. Barnes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is an original synthesis of the critical thinking system developed by Richard Paul (“Paulian CT”) and business ethics classroom teaching in the discipline of Philosophy. The project offers a full textbook for a 16-week college course in business ethics taught through the lends of Philosophy. This textbook is intended to teach business ethics in a critical manner, something often claimed by Philosophy textbooks but, according to this dissertation's literature review, never delivered upon. This textbook is the first business ethics textbook structured for criticality, to teach in ways that are supported by critical approaches, which set up the …

Analysis Of Social Costs Of Gentrification In Over-The-Rhine : A Qualitative Approach., Shireen Deobhakta

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the social costs and benefits of the gentrification process using qualitative methods. The neighborhood of Over-the-Rhine (OTR) in Cincinnati, Ohio, represents certain universalities of gentrification in an older city, and was thus chosen as the site for a case study. OTR’s prime location between the Central Business District and uptown medical and university community has spurred rapid gentrification, particularly since the early 2000s. Using in-depth interviews, participant observation, a focus group, and print media, this dissertation sought to understand the social costs and benefits of gentrification in OTR. Adopting the language of “revitalization” and “renaissance,” the city …

Answering The Call : An Examination Of Multicultural Competence Among Academic Advising Professionals., Tia Noelle Dumas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examined the relationship between background characteristics and multicultural competence among academic advising professionals at a large, public, urban research institution in the southern United States. It begins with a brief overview of ethical principles in academic advising, focusing on the responsibility academic advisors have to advise all students equitably. The dissertation study is guided by a conceptual framework grounded in student departure theory (Tinto, 1975, 1987, 1993), learning-centered academic advising (Lowenstein, 2005), culturally sustaining pedagogy (Paris, 2012), and multicultural competencies in helping and advising (Pope, Reynolds, & Mueller, 2004) to argue for an understanding of culturally responsive advising …

Does Cultural Self-Awareness Alter Instructional Design Decisions?, Antoinette Hando

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This project looks at the influence background culture has on instructional designers. Current research supports the hypothesis that background culture affects learning preferences. This study approaches cultural background from the instructional designers' point of view. Using Hofstede's Model of Cultural Dimensions as a tool for understanding how culture influences our expectations in a classroom setting a survey was sent to subjects from various cultures to see if their design style correlated to the ranking given by Hofstede. The results were that background culture influenced the experiences of the participants and could be related to Hofstede's Model of Cultural Dimensions.

Stoking The Flames Of Wellness: An Exploration Of Factors That Influence West Virginia Firefighters' Health Behaviors, Chelsea B. Wooding

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The concern over health and wellness among firefighters in the US has escalated recently due to increasing obesity rates, on-duty cardiovascular event risk, and job stress. Besides unique aspects of the work, a number of other barriers to health and wellness have been identified within the firefighter culture. Using a qualitative approach with multiple sources of data, the current study sought to answer the question, "what impacts the health of firefighters in West Virginia?" Eight focus groups, and Photovoice data from nine participants were inductively analyzed using guidelines from consensual qualitative research. House tours were also done to provide ethnographic …

West Virginia Title I Elementary School Principals' Perceptions Of The Barriers That Interfere With The Delivery Of Educational Services For Foster Children: The Lost At-Risk Children, Janie C. Devaul

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Foster children are now considered the most at-risk children in American society. Concern for meeting foster children's educational needs falls with the social services domain, however, it is the school system that is responsible for ensuring that all children receive an appropriate education. The schools have programs and policies in place to help the subgroup of identified at-risk students, but foster children are not part of that subgroup. Schools may be overlooking the needs of the foster child because they do not know them as students with special needs. These special needs are not all academics, but they impact the …

Exploring Faculty Members’ Multicultural Competence At A Faith-Based Institution, Stephanie Fenwick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study explored challenges related to issues of diversity for faculty members teaching in nontraditional adult degree completion programs. The problem addressed was an increasing expectation that faculty members facilitate learning to help increase the cultural proficiency of their students without having prior training or needed experience. A critical appreciative inquiry (CAI) case study methodology with a transformative conceptual framework was used to explore the intersection of effective adult learning paradigms and multicultural competence. The primary research question addressed the cultural competence challenges that faculty members confront when teaching in the adult classroom. A purposeful sample of 188 faculty members …

The Influence Of Religion On Attitudes Toward Alcohol Use In Jewish Adolescents, Toby R. Levin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Historically, the Jewish faith has used alcohol in rituals and religious holidays in which adolescents are permitted to fully participate and this exposure to alcohol may influence attitudes and beliefs about underage drinking among Jewish adolescents. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between the Jewish religion and attitudes toward alcohol among Jewish adolescents. The theoretical frameworks, on which this study was based, were the social bond theory and the social development theory. Each of these theories indicates that community is important to the individual. Using a cross sectional study design, 160 adolescents participated …

Academic Clustering Of Student-Athletes: A Case Study Of Football And Basketball Programs, Matthew Brett Rowland

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the topic of academic clustering within the football and men's and women's basketball teams at the University of Arkansas. Given the prominence of collegiate sport in America, this paper examines a relatively understudied topic regarding student-athletes and education. Using a mixed methods approach, the topic of academic clustering is analyzed statistically, as well as through in-depth interviews with student-athletes and academic advisors in the athletic department. Statistical analysis shows significant over- and under-representation of student-athletes in certain University colleges (e.g., Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, Walton College of Business, and College of Engineering), the presence of …

Community At The Courts: Social And Community Interactions At Public Basketball Courts, Elizabeth Arnaud Fogle

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Based on over 60 informal interviews conducted at two public basketball courts, this study utilizes grounded theory to trace class- and race-based differences in the social interactions occurring at both parks. By comparing social interactions between a white, middle class basketball court, and a black, lower class basketball court, I argue that social engagement is not be declining for all segments of society as some theorists suggest. Moreover, I argue that the relationships forged at the basketball court in a predominantly black, working-class neighborhood prove to be more meaningful and have deeper benefits than those forged at a basketball court …

Paws In Prison: A Second Chance, Tiffany King

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The documentary film Paws in Prison: A Second Chance takes an in-depth look at a program that has been incorporated in seven Arkansas prisons since 2011. Select inmates housed in these prisons are chosen to learn how to become dog trainers during their sentences. They spend 24 hours a day with dogs that were rescued from shelters where they may have been euthanized. This project incorporates interviews with inmates in the Paws in Prison program, wardens at the Maximum Security Unit and the Tucker Unit, and volunteers who spend time teaching inmates how to train and socialize their dogs. The …

Evaluating The Effects Of The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery On College Participation, Noah Aaron Pittman

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, lottery scholarship programs have become a popular policy program for states that wish to help students afford higher education without having to raise new taxes. Through a statewide lottery, profits from the program are passed onto college students in the form of merit-based scholarships. Even with strong opposition from opponents who questioned how much a lottery would benefit the entire population of the state, the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery was created via voter referendum in 2008.

A key goal of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery was to increase college participation, especially among underrepresented students. The study therefore sought to …

Time-Space Analysis Of Terrorist Planning Cycles, Michael Stephen Gerald Eastham

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Terrorism is among the largest threats to national and international security in today's global community. Acts of terrorism have resulted economic and societal impacts throughout the world. Improvements in technology have increased the capacity of terrorists to maximize the impact of their actions. The increasing influence and prevalence of terrorist activity has demanded research focused on the prevention of terrorist acts. A known method of terrorism prevention is uncovering a plot during its planning and preparation phase. Terrorist planning can be evaluated based on how actors move through space and time prior to the execution of their attack. General patterns …

Assessing The Effectiveness Of Student Oriented Learning Outlines (Solos) In An Equine Classroom, Kathleen S. Jogan

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study determined if the use of the student oriented learning outline (SOLO) in a University of Arkansas equine production classroom had a positive influence in three areas: mastery of material taught, retention of material taught and voluntary positive student behaviors related to the use of course material. Thirty-one students who were enrolled in 2012 were in the non-SOLO group (control), and 25 students who were enrolled in 2013 were the SOLO group (treatment). Three separate units were taught to the treatment and control groups with only one difference: the treatment group was given a SOLO one week in advance …

Organizational Structure And Resources Of Alumni Associations At Public Senior Universities In The Southeastern United States, Robert M. Plummer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the quantitative study was to analyze the staffing patterns, organizational structures, funding resources, practice of resource allocation, technology use, size of alumni population, size of institution enrollment, and age of the institutions at senior public colleges and universities in the southeastern United States. These institutions were derived from the membership of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education [CASE] during the academic years 2010-2012 in the United States District III region, generally the Southeast to lower Mid-Atlantic states. The study was further limited to public, comprehensive institutions as determined by the Carnegie Classification system. Data were …

Yap (Youth Advocate Programs) Assists Youth In Finding And Securing Employment, Douglas N. Evans, Sheyla A. Delgado

Publications and Research

This report, conducted by the Research and Evaluation Center at John Jay College, examines the impact of the Youth Advocate Programs (YAP) on youth employment outcomes. A study of 1,523 youth aged 15-17 showed that YAP participation significantly increased the likelihood of employment, with nearly a 300% rise in employed clients between entry and discharge. Employment rates rose from 6% to 15%, while unemployment decreased from 68% to 55%. The findings highlight the effectiveness of YAP in improving job prospects for justice-involved youth, particularly those with prior legal issues or out-of-home placements.

Traveling Exhibit Practice Of Compassion: Celebrating Unm School Of Medicine’S Fifty Years Of Excellence, Laura J. Hall

Posters and Presentations

This traveling exhibit celebrated the 50th anniversary of the UNM School of Medicine, presenting key milestones in its history and contributions to healthcare in New Mexico. Designed and written by Laura J. Hall, MFA, the exhibit featured eight retractable banners and was displayed at community centers, libraries, healthcare clinics, and hospitals across New Mexico during the anniversary year. August 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015

Choral Activities At The University Of Chattanooga From 1886-1969, Ashley N. Cisto

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Group singing has served as a valued recreational, religious, and educational activity in communities and institutions throughout the United States. A historical case study of the University of Chattanooga, a small Methodist-Episcopal college founded in 1886, indicates ideological factors, historical events, and technological advancements that shaped the existence and function of choral curriculum and song traditions on campus. A timeline of choral traditions emerged which mirrored those of private liberal arts colleges nationwide. Singing on the University of Chattanooga campus established time honored traditions, cultivated a sense of community among students, and provided important services for University affairs. The larger …

Not Post-Racial Era, New Racial Era, Louise Cainkar

Social and Cultural Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Gladys-On-The-Prairie: The Effect Of Social And Environmental Forces On The Identity And Life Of Dr. Gladys C. Galligar, Desiree M.E. King

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Twentieth century Americans recognized problems created by both the subjected status women held by society and the harmful impact humanity had on natural resources and domains. America’s search for realization and solutions for the inherent problems associated with the devaluation of women and nature did not come quickly or easily; it took a path that wound around both traditional concepts and progressive insights. I argue in this thesis that the biography of Dr. Gladys C. Galligar demonstrates, on an intimate level, America’s dawning awareness of the necessity of a healthier environment and a more egalitarian society. As a biology researcher …

Assessing The Scholarly Communication Attitudes And Practices Of Faculty: Lessons From A "Failed" Survey, Kristin Laughtin-Dunker

Library Articles and Research

INTRODUCTION This paper reports on a survey administered to faculty at Chapman University to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and practices with regard to scholarly communications, in order to help the new scholarly communications librarian plan appropriate library programs and services to meet faculty needs. DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM The survey was adapted from the Institute on Scholarly Communications’ “Faculty Involvement in Scholarly Communications Opportunity Assessment Instrument” for a faculty audience in early fall 2013. It “failed” in that it faced long administrative delays and was met with a low response rate when finally published in December 2013. However, the responses received …

Promising Practices Of Dairy, Horse, And Livestock Evaluation Career Development Event Coaches: A Mixed-Methods Study, Melissa A. Voigt, B Allen Talbert, Steven K. Mckinley, Colleen M. Brady

Journal of Extension

The present study describes promising practices of successful dairy, horse, and livestock judging coaches. Expert coaches were interviewed regarding previous experience, coaching philosophy, coaching objectives, coaching style, and advice. Twenty-seven promising practices and eight themes were identified from the interviews. A questionnaire was sent to the accessible population of coaches to determine practice usage and relationship to youth performance. Influential and motivating practices were found to be most used by coaches. Youth performance was related to use of competitive and expectancy related promising practices. Findings suggest use of promising practices would facilitate greater coaching success in competition and youth development.

4-H Youth Development: The Past, The Present, And The Future, Lynne M. Borden, Daniel F. Perkins, Kyle Hawkey

Journal of Extension

The 4-H Program within Cooperative Extension is more than 100 years old. As we celebrate 100 years of Cooperative Extension, the foundation built by the 4-H Program serves as grounds to meet the needs of today's youth. The diversity of the youth who participate continues to grow, families continue to become less traditional, potential volunteers' time continues to shrink, and the growing number of digital devices steal time. These changes demand 4-H adapt and innovate to remain relevant. This commentary examines the role that 4-H Youth Development will play in the next 100 years to face these challenges.

The Philosophical Significance Of Slave Narratives, Darian Spearman

Theses

This thesis asserts that the slave narratives are a significant resource for philosophers. Following Lewis Gordon, I argue that the slave narratives should not be understood merely as experiential evidence by which to validate Western thought. Instead, the narratives should be read as moments in which Black narrators shared their unique insights on the Western world. In line with Angela Davis, I argue that these critiques are still relevant to philosophers of this day and age. However, I argue that Davis' Marxist reading of Frederick Douglass' Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave is still vulnerable to …

Ageism And Experience Bias In Employment Interviews, Dustin Grant Williams

Theses and Dissertations

The present study explored the effects of employment interviewee's age and work experience on hiring manager's recommendations to hire. It was hypothesized that interviewees who were older and therefore had more work experience would receive significantly fewer recommendations to be hired than interviewees with less experience and therefore younger. Furthermore, it was proposed that hiring managers with higher ageist attitudes, as measured by the Fraboni Scale of Ageism, would be less likely to recommend older interviewees with extensive years of work experience be hired than younger interviewees with less work experience. The population was comprised of employment hiring manager from …

Revisiting The Feminine Mystique, Cynthia Fuchs Epstein

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Book Review Of "Resilient Grandparent Caregivers: A Strengths-Based Perspective", Matthew Kaplan

GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy

[No need for abstract since it's a book review.]

Mentors Support Grandfamilies Raising Grandchildren, Susan G. Weinberger

GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy

The role of mentors to provide support to Grandfamilies and their grandchildren is examined in this paper. How youth benefit when they are matched with mentors serving as their external advocates, assisting them and seeking resources for their success in school and life is discussed. Grandfamilies who wish to find mentors for youth need to know what resources are available and how to access them. These resources are also reviewed. In addition. non-profit agencies who design programs to serve Grandfamilies need to follow quality assurance standards. Tips are suggested to make this happen.