Digital Commons Network^™

Grounding Access To Justice Theory And Practice In The Experiences Of Women Abused By Their Intimate Partners, Janet Mosher

Articles & Book Chapters

For women seeking to extricate themselves from the web of entrapment woven together by the multiple threads that make up the coercive control repertoire of their abusive intimate partners, it is often difficult to avoid engagement with legal systems. Yet, the legal systems they encounter—criminal, family, child welfare, immigration among them—are frequently unwelcoming (if not hostile), controlling, demeaning, fragmented and contradictory. While there has been a recent explosion of interest in “access to justice,” little attention has been paid to how we might conceptualize access to justice in a manner that speaks meaningfully to the circumstances of women who experience …

Building A Peer-Learning Service For Students In An Academic Library, Mary O'Kelly, Julie Garrison, Brian Merry, Jennifer Torreano

Scholarly Papers and Articles

Academic libraries are well lauded for offering supportive spaces for students’ self-directed study, and significant resources are dedicated to librarian instruction in the classroom. What many academic libraries lack, however, is a middle ground, a routine way for students to help one another using best practices in peer-to-peer learning theory. A new, nonauthoritative, supplemental service by students and for students began at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, MI, in fall 2012 with a cohort of “peer research consultants.” Students learn information literacy skills with a well-trained peer, untethered from the hierarchy inherent in formal instruction environments. This paper describes …

Notions Of Reproductive Harm In Canadian Law: Addressing Exposures To Household Chemicals As Reproductive Torts, Roxanne Mykitiuk, Alana Cattapan, Mark Pioro

Articles & Book Chapters

Mounting scientific evidence is suggesting that various synthetic chemicals are ubiquitous in the household and natural environment, and are affecting reproductive health in humans. Yet litigation in response to exposure to harmful chemicals has had limited success. This is in large part because causation is often difficult to prove, as exposure often occurs over long periods of time, and the sources of suspected chemical agents are ubiquitous and/or diffuse. In light of these challenges, there is a need to consider new legal strategies to confront these harms.

This article examines the potential for prenatal exposure to harmful chemicals to be …

Changing Lives: A Developmental Approach To College Counseling, Donna San Antonio, Chelsea Levy, Tuyet-Mai Hoang

Journal of Pedagogy, Pluralism, and Practice

News reports and articles about the stress of college life reflect a growing concern that college students are a vulnerable population, residing in high stress environments, susceptible to social and emotional risks, and often unable or unwilling to access adequate support. The National Center for Education Statistics shows an overall increase in college enrollment at both undergraduate and graduate levels in the last four decades (NCES, 2014). As more young adults choose higher education, college campuses are under increased public scrutiny. They are expected, on the one hand, to offer the safety and guidance associated with their in loco parentis …

Learning From “Dirty Jobs:” Reflection On Work In The Classroom, Nicola Blake

Journal of Pedagogy, Pluralism, and Practice

This article will examine how the work environment presented through popular culture can enrich and extend ideas of work in a community college curriculum. The article presents the context and pedagogy of utilizing notions of “dirty jobs” in the classroom and highlights the discoveries made about theories of work in the process. Students documented these discoveries using three writing assignments. These scaffolded assignments created individual ethnographic responses to the key question: “What is Work”? By using meta-cognitive teaching practices and popular culture, students were able to use the guided writing activities to explore their individual notions of work, career, and …

Teacher-Education Programs & Teacher Trainees` Sense Of Professional Efficacy, Efrat Kass, Erez Miller

Journal of Pedagogy, Pluralism, and Practice

Teachers’ sense of self-efficacy (SSE) is strongly related to the quality of teachers and their teaching. Thus, it is important to determine whether teacher education programs enhance the SSE of teacher trainees. This article assesses teachers’ SSE based on two spheres: classroom and organization. The study explored three questions: (a) Is there a change in classroom efficacy over the course of four years of training? (b) Is there a change in organizational efficacy over the course of four years of training? (c) Is there a difference between classroom efficacy and organizational efficacy at the end of each year of teacher …

Health Check: Analyzing Trends In West Michigan 2015, Grand Valley State University

Health Check: Analyzing Trends in West Michigan

No abstract provided.

A Biblical And Missiological Framework For Cross-Cultural Mission: A Case Study Of The Lobi Funeral Rites In Burkina Faso, Boubakar Sanou

Dissertations

Problem

Converts to Christianity in traditional contexts often face pressure to continue traditional rituals and practices which sometimes contain unbiblical elements. Non-selective performance of traditional practices can produce dual allegiance and syncretism. Such is the case with Lobi Seventh-day Adventists concerning their traditional funeral rites of passage. Some core elements of these traditional funeral rites, in which all community members are expected to fully participate, conflict with biblical teachings on the human condition after death.

Method

This dissertation starts by laying the theoretical and theological basis for addressing the problem. The dissertation then uses ethnographic research of funeral rites among …

The Relationship Between Episodes Of Dissociative Amnesia, Symptomology Of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, And Childhood Sexual Abuse, Jennifer E. Perkins

Dissertations

Problem. Identifying the possibility of a significant relationship between childhood sexual abuse, symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and episodes of dissociative amnesia is both relevant and useful in the therapeutic setting. Identifying indicative factors for a history of childhood sexual abuse and including them in a standardized therapeutic assessment will assist therapists in planning future treatment. This study used secondary data to examine the relationship between childhood sexual abuse, symptomology of PTSD, episodes of dissociative amnesia, and selected demographic characteristics.

Method. This quantitative study used a therapist-completed data collection tool which compiled brief client demographics, episodes of dissociative amnesia, …

Curriculum-Related Trends In K-12 Adventist Education In The North American Division: An Inductive Analysis Of The Profile Surveys--1987-2007, Monica Desir

Dissertations

Problem

For several years, curriculum developers in the North American Division (NAD) have used the biennial results from the Profile Surveys to help guide their decisions in terms of educational policy. While some comparisons have been made between individual studies and ensuing results have been used to influence curriculum development, overall trends in the 10 studies up to 2007 have not been identified. As the studies increased in number, an integrative effort was needed in order help reveal the trends in the combined results and to make them available in more compact form for use by curriculum developers.

Method

The …

The Effectiveness Of The Violence Against Women Act (Vawa) In Creating System-Level Change, Tara Aday

SPNHA Review

With the understanding that gendered violence is an issue that does not exist in silos, this article seeks to analyze the effectiveness of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in creating a system-wide response to stalking, domestic abuse, and sexual violence. Although these crimes are a prevailing social issue, until the passage of VAWA in 1994, little concerted effort existed between sectors or across agencies to respond to and meet the needs of those affected by these types of violence. In addition to providing an analysis of the partnership and funding between the public and nonprofit sectors, this article also …

Pinching Pennies, Costing Dollars: Michigan's Offender Re-Entry System, Crystal A. Dussia

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

The current state of incarceration is a burden that every taxpayer bears. Through effective offender re-entry services, the financial, social, and physical burdens such as high crime rates, high recidivism rates, and the high cost of incarceration can be lessened for all citizens. Historical context establishes a foundation to be able to understand the current state of re-entry in Michigan as a small representation of the nation. The financial expenditures, social costs, and lack of evidence of past practice are explored. The content of this thesis is focused on Michigan within a national context of prison re-entry programs, history, and …

Musculoskeletal Markers Of Linguistic Variance On The Human Mandible, Hannah Catherine Hilbert

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Skeletal morphology is greatly influenced by muscle action and articulation. Exertion of force by muscle use permanently alters bone shape. It can therefore be assumed that the muscles involved in speech production would play a role in shaping the stomatognathic structures (i.e. relating to the mouth and jaw). This study has been designed to explore the resulting cranio-facial manifestations of linguistic diversity amongst modern Homo sapiens. Utilizing data independently collected from American, French, and Philippine skeletal collections, it is concluded that a correlation exists (albeit not significant) between observed musculoskeletal markers on the human mandible and the repetitive tongue …

En Route To Communicative Praxis: Understanding Natural Law And Several Communicative Implications, Rachel Ann Kosko

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This work claims communicative praxis is necessary and becomes increasingly more promising by introducing discussions that integrate explicit knowledge of natural law as a precursor for conversations regarding communication ethics. Taking a hermeneutical approach of returning to a text [book, person, place, etc.] with different questions develops new insights for identifying obstacles to understanding, functioning as barriers in preventing praxis. Some existing obstacles include errors, irrelevant information, misunderstandings, and implicit or omitted topics like natural law found lacking throughout the philosophical discourse. Therefore, this dissertation defines key terms, unveils the lineage of the law, reviews texts by Roman Catholic scholars …

Promoting An Equitable Eating-Out Food Environment Through The Application Of A Food Justice Frame: A Case Study, Aj Bisesi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This case study examines the effectiveness of developing and applying a "food justice frame" as a mobilization tool to promote an equitable Eating-out Food Environment (EOFE) in an urban neighborhood of Pittsburgh. A mixed-methods approach was taken to gather material and perception data, culminating in a community action meeting to generate interventions. Findings show that a five-dimensional definition of access is appropriate and effective. The dimensions of accessibility and affordability were less important factors of eating-out behavior (EOB) than the other three dimensions (availability, acceptability, accommodation). Findings also show that the methods used addressed the concerns of both food access …

The Women Of The Past Who Paved The Path For Our Future, Desalyn Swank Graybeal

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

"In November of 2014, we celebrated the 100th year anniversary of the establishment of the National Communication Association (NCA). It is important to examine the history of the NCA from as many angles and as perspectives as possible to fully appreciate where the NCA is today and how it got here. This thesis is intended to add yet another historical perspective to the NCA, reflecting the importance of the female presidents of the association. The purpose of this thesis is two-fold: to conduct a numeric analysis on the genders of the NCA presidents and to note the contributions and importance …

Hunter S. Thompson And Gonzo Journalism As Literature, Michael P. Kiernan

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between A Theological Understanding Of Marital Commitment And A Juridical Articulation Of Marital Consent In Sacramental Marriages In The United States, Angela Robb

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sacramental marriage is an essential social, public, ecclesial, and theological good, yet its influence in the United States is threatened by a divorce rate comparable to the U.S. population in general, an explosive increase in cohabitation, and a declining marriage rate. The underlying assumption of this dissertation is that commitment and consent, more thoroughly understood and consistently lived, are essential to lifelong, faithful, and life-giving marriage that symbolizes and makes present Christ's indissoluble love for the church. Through an adapted use of Don Browning's fundamental practical theological method, this study begins with practical concerns regarding concrete marital and family practices …

Understanding The Victim-Offender Overlap: An Exploratory Study, Christine Kay Hannis

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The strong and consistent relationship between criminal involvement and victimization is one of the most persistent documented findings within criminological research. The current problem associated with this relationship involves the lack of studies on the nature and extent of why this overlap exists, with even less research focusing on the perspectives of the offenders who identify themselves as victims. The current study attempts to better understand the victim-offender overlap by analyzing the experiences of criminal offenders who also identify as victims of crime, within the context of various theoretical perspectives. Various themes emerge to elaborate on the nature of the …

Moving Past: Making Space For Memory After The Boston Marathon Bombing, Austin Thomas Jacobs

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

In the aftermath of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, visitors from across the US and the world descended on Boston to pay their respects to the three people who were killed and the more than 260 who were injured at the race's finish line. The public commemorated the tragedy in multiple and diffuse spaces, both physical and virtual. In recognition of this fact, I use the changing location of the spontaneous shrine as an organizing structure for this study, analyzing the memorialization in three "movements,” each of which corresponds to a physical relocation of the shrine itself in the weeks …

An Exploration Of Employment Services For Survivors Of Domestic Violence In The Region Of Waterloo, Alishau Diebold Mrs.

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The ability of survivors of domestic violence to secure employment once they leave their vulnerable situations has been identified in the existing knowledge base as a significant issue, and one that urgently needed to be addressed. This qualitative applied social policy research study was undertaken to derive recommendations that could improve the current state of employment services available to women who had survived domestic violence residing in the Region of Waterloo. This was accomplished by determining which employment services align with the needs of a survivor as they began to seek employment. In-depth interviews were conducted to collect information from …

Perceptions Of Determining Factors: A Case Study Of Eviction Risks Of People Who Hoard In Waterloo Region, Emily J. Gibson

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Recently distinguished as a distinct disorder in the DSM-V, hoarding remains a behaviour about which we have only a cursory understanding. Hoarding behaviours can lead to a variety of health and safety risks, not only for the person who hoards, but for others who live with them, and their neighbouring community. Many studies make reference to the vulnerability of people who hoard as a result of these health and safety risks However, there has been little written about eviction specifically due to hoarding. This study explores the research question: what factors enable individuals who hoard to maintain their housing when …

The Christian Farmers Federation Of Ontario: Integrating Christian Principles With The Practicality Of Farming, Suzanne M. Armstrong

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis examines the Christian identity and characteristics of the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO), a general farm organization active in the diverse agricultural sector of Ontario, Canada. It highlights the intersection of religion and farming that emerged from interviews and participant observation within this group. The thesis probes what it means for them to be responsible Christian farmers in contemporary agriculture. Christian and secular scholars from three key areas of scholarship—Dutch immigration to Canada, agriculture of the middle or family farming, and Christian stewardship—help to contextualize their responses.

The CFFO was founded as a Dutch neo-Calvinist organization within …

Maps Of Marginalization: Exploring The Healthcare Experiences Of Men And Women With Fibromyalgia, Michelle J. Skop

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This qualitative study explored the retrospective and ongoing healthcare experiences of men and women who have a diagnosis of fibromyalgia (FM), a contested, chronic, and gendered condition of unknown origin. The research question was: "How do men and women who have a diagnosis of FM experience interactions with healthcare providers?" The study, which was epistemologically rooted in the critical theories of feminist poststructuralism and intersectionality, blended constructivist grounded theory with a participatory component, an arts-based research methodology called body-map storytelling. Thirty-five participants were recruited from the Greater Toronto Area and Kitchener-Waterloo. Ten participants completed in-depth interviews while 25 participants completed …

"It's Not Written In Stone": A Narrative Analysis Of The Mothering Experiences Of Women Who Experienced Childhood Sexual Abuse By A Family Member, Eva L.P. Burrill

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Within the existing body of literature on women survivors of intrafamilial childhood sexual abuse (CSA), there is extant literature that indicates that survivors will experience mothering challenges later in life. However, little research has focused on the possibility that mothering might also function as a site of healing. Addressing this gap, this thesis explores the mothering experiences of six women who experienced childhood sexual abuse by a family member. Working within a narrative methodology, data was gathered through semi-structured, in-depth interviews, and analyzed using a combination of categorical-content and holistic-content analysis. Three overarching themes were identified: 1) The Impact of …

The Reinvention Of The Canadian Armed Forces Chaplaincy And The Limits Of Religious Pluralism, Michael T. Peterson Rev. Dr.

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The Reinvention of the Canadian Armed Forces Chaplaincy offers an analysis of how an historically Christian religious organization, one prominently sited within an important Canadian institution, adapted to pluralism. This research is the first to examine Canada’s military chaplaincy since Benham Rennick’s (2011) more broadly focused study of the role of religion in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). My study is the first to focus specifically on the chaplaincy and on the ways in which it has sought to develop and maintain a pluralist identity. I trace the process by which a legacy Christian institution developed a self-image as a …

Bill 13 (The Accepting Schools Act): Ontario Legislation Mandating Support For Lgbt Students In Publicly-Funded Schools, Renato M. Liboro Jr.

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Twenty-six key stakeholders from schools in Waterloo Region, Ontario, participated in semi-structured, open-ended interviews for this dissertation. They included students, teachers, school board representatives in administrator and superintendent roles, trustees, and community service providers. This study explored the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth in publicly-funded schools, the effect of those experiences on their mental health and well-being, and the success of strategies, programs, and policies implemented by schools to address LGBT youth issues. It also examined the perspectives of participants on Bill 13, Ontario’s Accepting Schools Act, particularly strengths and weaknesses of the bill in terms …

Reproductive (In)Justice: Exploring Young Women’S Experiences Of Reproductive Saliency In An Oppressive Environment, Angele D. Desroches

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Young North American women are currently coming of age in a sociopolitical context governed by neoliberal ideology, post-feminist assumptions, agentic femininities, and demographic trends that have lengthened pathways to adulthood. Consequently, the avoidance of early reproductive experiences has become a key requisite governing the success of the young female subject. This project explores the diverse reproductive experiences of eleven young (≤ 24 years of age) women residing in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Prince Edward Island’s conservative community culture, anti-choice policies, and limited youth focused sexual-reproductive health services produces a unique experiential setting for young women who encounter reproductive events. Through …

Exploring The Moments And Memory Of Tourist Experiences In Peru, Sarah Quinlan Cutler

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Tourist experiences offer anomalous and complex interactions between tourists and tourism places. The study of these experiences is the focus of this doctoral dissertation, which aims to explore subjective aspects of the tourist experience. This exploration involves the conceptualisation of tourist experiences and the development of a multi-phased research design that captures the perceptions of momentary in situ experiences and examines how these perceptions change over time.

The dissertation addresses under studied areas in tourism and answers calls for research into immediate conscious experiences and tourist centred methodology. This investigation into tourist experiences involves 21 participants who took an educational …

Canadian Christian Nationalism?: The Religiosity And Politics Of The Christian Heritage Party Of Canada, Leah A D Mckeen

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

In this dissertation I examines the worldview and concerns held by members of the Christian Heritage Party of Canada (CHP) as a means of understanding Canada’s Christian Right. I present a perspective of Canada’s Christian Right that challenges assumptions made about this religio-political ideology by showing how the political choices made by members of the CHP make sense within the members’ context. The CHP is a federal political party, first registered in 1986, that markets itself as “Canada’s only pro-life party.” Although the party was initially developed by a group of conservative Protestants and Roman Catholics, the majority of its …