Digital Commons Network^™

What Must There Be To Account For Being?, Dillon T. Mccrea

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this essay is to identify what I consider to be core philosophical arguments supporting the thesis that being subsists. The design of the thesis is as follows: First, I will attempt to identify arguments supporting the claim that we posit the universe and all of its content in relation to the question of being. Second, I will identify arguments supporting the claim that it is incoherent to claim that being is merely a function of the existence of individual entities, and that all entities share being in common. Third, I will identify arguments supporting the claim that …

Relationship Among Motivation, Emotion Regulation, And Psychological Well-Being Of Sophomore And Senior Level Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Aryene C. Delgado, Douglas Garner, Nicole Langhals

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Nursing education and professional work involve stressful circumstances that may indirectly lead to attrition, which can further contribute to the projected nursing shortage. This study examines the relationships between motivation, emotional regulation, psychological well-being and academic performance in baccalaureate sophomore and senior level nursing students at a Midwest urban university in the United States. The non-experimental, correlational study is guided by the self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000) and uses online survey data collection and convenience sampling. Motivation, emotional regulation, psychological well-being (burnout; inauthenticity), and academic performance (GPA) are measured respectively with Deci and Ryan’s scale, the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, …

The Effect Of Therapeutic Horseback Riding On Balance And Self-Efficacy In Children With Developmental Disabilities, Alexandra Smola, Lauren Hurley

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Therapeutic horseback riding (THR) has positive health related outcomes in children with developmental disabilities. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a 10-week THR intervention on balance and task-specific self-efficacy in children with developmental disabilities. Bandura’s social cognitive theory and the physical stress theory guided the quasi-experimental study. A pre-test post-test design (N=20) was implemented with a 10-week THR class at a riding center in Midwest United States. The first research question was: In children with developmental disabilities ages 5 to 18, does one 10-week session of THR affect balance? With time 1 balance mean at …

A Systematic Review: Effects Of Psychosocial Interventions On Outcomes In Refugee Adolescents Resettled In The Us, Canada, And The Uk, Lauren Herr, Halle Kurtz

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Abstract

Problem: The number of refugee and displaced people in the United States (US) increases annually. Because of trauma in countries of origin, they may have mental health problems and disrupted adjustments during resettlement, resulting in problems with refugee adolescents and their quality of life, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and overall well-being.

Purpose: To describe and appraise evidence about the effects of psychosocial interventions in refugee adolescents resettled in the US.

Methods: Studies from US, Canada, and the United Kingdom (UK) were identified in four databases. Inclusion criteria included: primary studies, children and/or adolescents, psychosocial health interventions, and refugees.

Review of …

The Effect Of School Based Nursing On Health Related Outcomes In Children: A Review Of Literature, Alexandra M. Pianalto, Mitchell C. Wall

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Background: School nursing staff deal with acute, chronic, screening, and education issues in the school based clinic. It is the school nursing staff’s role to provide care and treatment to children during school hours.

Purpose: Conduct a systematic review of the literature comparing disposition outcomes of children seen by school nursing staff to answer the PICO question: How does implementation of school based nursing affect health related outcomes in children within and outside the school environment?

Methods: Integrative literature review

Description of Evidence: Twenty research articles chosen from the database CINAHL, articles published within past nine years

Critical Appraisal: …

The Physician’S Perspective On The Impact Of Interpretive Services On The Physician- Patient Relationship, Amrita Pandey

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The basis of the physician-patient relationship relies heavily on communication. It has been known that conversation between physician and patient is important in both diagnosing and providing therapeutic support. However, according to the US Census Bureau twenty percent of the US population does not use English as their first language. These residents face language barriers on a daily basis, including when they are being treated medically. The aim of this study was to research the physician’s perspective on the use of interpretive services and how it impacts the physician- patient relationship. The research consisted of surveying physicians who encounter patients …

The Takeover Of Standardized Tests, Karlie M. Lieberth

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Diane Ravitch once said, “Sometimes the most brilliant and intelligent students do not shine in standardized tests because they do not have standardized minds”. Standardized testing is a very controversial issue occurring in our school systems today. Standards hold schools and teachers accountable for properly progressing our youth through school. However, is administering the same exact test to every child in every school district the best way to measure growth? There are many factors that makes up a school and student body such as poverty, cultural beliefs etc. These factors are not addressed in the standardized tests that our students …

Ann Arbor And The Ann Arbor Public Schools: A Cultural Geography, Lisa R. Anglin

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand the persisting disparity in academic achievement between Caucasian and African American students within the Ann Arbor Public School District. This research analyzed the historical and geographical evolution of the city of Ann Arbor, specific to the organization of its public schools. This study sought to define the dominant cultural groups of Ann Arbor, how they evolved, as well as how they migrated to the region. In addition, a critical component of this study was to explain the relationship between the cultural geography of Ann Arbor and structure of the school organization, which …

Young Adult Fiction Writing In The Classroom: Emily’S Investigation And Insights, Emily Westfall

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project explores the field of young adult literature, while also discovering the creative writing process required to develop a young adult novel. The project is organized into three separate parts. Part One focuses on young adult writers and the literature they create, along with the benefits of using these novels in a high school classroom. To benefit my future career as a future writing teacher, I researched the process required to write a fiction novel, specifically one in the young adult genre. Within this section, sources are cited such as experienced teachers and the scholarship on young adult literature. …

Classroom Management, Summer L. Emich

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project focused its research on how various teachers implement classroom management into their classrooms. The definition of classroom management used for this project is from The Glossary of Education Reform, which says classroom management refers to the “wide variety of skills and techniques that teachers and schools use to keep students organized, orderly, focused, attentive, on task, and academically productive during a class” (Great Schools Partnership, 2014, p. 1). The purpose of this project was to determine how various teachers incorporate classroom management into their classrooms. Two schools were used during this project where two principals were interviewed and …

Heroes, Past And Future, Benjamin Green

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

A creative work set in a small town in which everyone has a supernatural ability called a "Gift." This work shows the characters, all on different walks of life, as they show that the metaphorical fish cannot outgrow the fish bowl. Those who have lived in this town all their lives seem to have weaker Gifts than those who have lived even one hour away. Heroes, Past and Future explores how one cannot hope to meet their true potential as a person except by allowing themselves to move even slightly away from the familiar.

Cogeneration System Comparison For The Akron Water Treatment Plant, Devin J. Pearcy, Madison R. Morgan

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Cogeneration is a process of electrical power generation that simultaneously harnesses the heat produced from that electrical generation and uses it to supply heat to a space. The Akron Water Plant was identified as potentially benefitting from this technology for two main reasons. First, they have a large and relatively constant electrical load. Second, they have ownership of a significant amount of natural gas wells at the site.

This report analyzes the economic feasibility of installing a cogeneration plant at the Akron Water Plant (AWP). Data was collected for the plant and its operations, including electricity bills, gas bills, plant …

Rep As A Predictor Of Weight Categories Determined By Anthropometric Measurements, Nicholas Mendola

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Obesity has become one of the leading public health issues in the world today. An aspect of this issue that must be addressed in order for it to not persist as a problem in the future is the issue of childhood obesity. One of the most common screening methods to determine if a child is classified as overweight or obese is to utilize anthropometric measurements like body mass index, and waist-to-height ratios. Past studies have shown that children who are categorized as overweight or obese can struggle with physical activity and typically have lower fitness levels as their anthropometric measurements …

The Effectiveness Of Physical Activity Interventions On Young Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Meta-Analysis, Adam Nacario

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Objective: The purpose of the study is to examine the efficacy of physical activity interventions and practices on psychomotor, cognitive, or affective outcomes on young individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Methods: Standard meta-analytical procedures determining inclusion criteria, literature searches in electronic databases, coding procedures, and statistical methods were used to identify and synthesize articles retained for analysis. Cohen’s d (1988) will be utilized in order to interpret effect sizes and quantify research findings. The impact was assessed using coding procedures that categorize independent variables.

Results: A total of 23 independent samples (N=896) were utilized in this analysis. Results …

Concept Analysis: Music Therapy, Carolyn J. Murrock, Abir K. Bekhet

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Down through the ages, music has been universally valued for its therapeutic properties based on the psychological and physiological responses in humans. However, the underlying mechanisms of the psychological and physiological responses to music have been poorly identified and defined. Without clarification, a concept can be misused, thereby diminishing its importance for application to nursing research and practice. The purpose of this article was for the clarification of the concept of music therapy based on Walker and Avant’s concept analysis strategy. A review of recent nursing and health-related literature covering the years 2007–2014 was performed on the concepts of music, …

Nurses' Perceptions Of Diagnosis And Prognosis-Related Communication: An Integrative Review, Amy Rose Newman

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background: Disclosure of diagnostic and prognostic information has become the standard in the United States and increasingly around the world. Disclosure is generally identified as the responsibility of the physician. However, nurses are active participants in the process both intentionally and inadvertently. If not included in initial discussions regarding diagnosis and prognosis, the nurse may find it challenging to openly support the patient and family.

Objective: The aim of this study is to synthesize published literature regarding nurses’ perceptions and experiences with diagnosis and prognosis-related communication.

Methods: The Whittemore and Knafl method guided the integrative review process. …

Latina Adolescents' Perspectives On Relationships, Kristin Haglund, Ruth Ann Belknap, Juanita Terrie Garcia, Aimee A. Woda, John O'Hara

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Objective: To explore adolescent Latinas’ perspectives on relationships and generate knowledge to inform interventions. Setting: Seven Latina adolescents participated. Design: This qualitative study was guided by principles of community-based participatory research and utilized the photovoice method. Method: Participants took photos depicting elements of relationships and participated in guided discussions. They identified and named five elements of healthy relationships. Results: The five elements included commitment, communication, faith, amigos y amores (friends and lovers) and play. These elements occur across all forms of relationships. Conclusion: The results revealed important information that may be used to tailor health promotion interventions for Latina/o youth.

Pilot Testing Behavior Therapy For Chronic Tic Disorders In Neurology And Developmental Pediatrics Clinics, Emily J. Ricketts, Donald L. Gilbert, Samuel H. Zinner, Jonathan W. Mink, Tara D. Lipps, Geoffrey A. Wiegand, Amy E. Vierhile, Laura J. Ely, John Piacentini, John T. Walkup, Douglas W. Woods

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) is an efficacious treatment with limited regional availability. As neurology and pediatric clinics are often the first point of therapeutic contact for individuals with tics, the present study assessed preliminary treatment response, acceptability, and feasibility of an abbreviated version, modified for child neurology and developmental pediatrics clinics. Fourteen youth (9-17) with Tourette disorder across 2 child neurology clinics and one developmental pediatrics clinic participated in a small case series. Clinician-rated tic severity (Yale Global Tic Severity Scale) decreased from pre- to posttreatment, z = –2.0, P < .05, r = –.48, as did tic-related impairment, z …

An Empirical Examination Of Symptom Substitution Associated With Behavior Therapy For Tourette's Disorder, Alan L. Peterson, Joseph F. Mcguire, Sabine Wilhelm, John Piacentini, Douglas W. Woods, John T. Walkup, John P. Hatch, Robert Villarreal, Lawrence Scahill

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Over the past six decades, behavior therapy has been a major contributor to the development of evidence-based psychotherapy treatments. However, a long-standing concern with behavior therapy among many nonbehavioral clinicians has been the potential risk for symptom substitution. Few studies have been conducted to evaluate symptom substitution in response to behavioral treatments, largely due to measurement and definitional challenges associated with treated psychiatric symptoms. Given the overt motor and vocal tics associated with Tourette’s disorder, it presents an excellent opportunity to empirically evaluate the potential risk for symptom substitution associated with behavior therapy. The present study examined the possible presence …

Assessing Impairment In Childhood Adhd: Validation Of The Parent And Teacher Adhd-Fx Rating Scale In A Dual-Site Clinical Sample, Lauren M. Haack, Kelsey Gonring, Michael Harris, Alyson C. Gerdes, Linda Pfiffner

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Objective: The current study sought to establish psychometric properties of the ADHD-FX (a culturally sensitive measure designed to assess functional impairment related to ADHD) in a dual-site clinical sample. Method: We analyzed patient charts of 67 children (47 boys and 20 girls, ages 5 to 15 years) receiving comprehensive assessments from two university-based ADHD clinics. Results: The parent and teacher ADHD-FX rating scales demonstrated good psychometric properties via adequate reliability (Cronbach’s α > .70), convergent construct validity (significant correlations with majority of theoretically related measures), and divergent construct validity (insignificant correlations with majority of theoretically unrelated measures). Conclusion: Results extend upon …

Validation Of The Vaccination Confidence Scale: A Brief Measure To Identify Parents At Risk For Refusing Adolescent Vaccines, Melissa Gilkey, Paul Reiter, Brooke E. Magnus, Annie-Laurie Mcree, Amanda F. Dempsey, Joseph M. Brewer

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Objective

To validate a brief measure of vaccination confidence using a large, nationally representative sample of parents.

Methods

We analyzed weighted data from 9018 parents who completed the 2010 National Immunization Survey–Teen, an annual, population-based telephone survey. Parents reported on the immunization history of a 13- to 17-year-old child in their households for vaccines including tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap), meningococcal, and human papillomavirus vaccines. For each vaccine, separate logistic regression models assessed associations between parents' mean scores on the 8-item Vaccination Confidence Scale and vaccine refusal, vaccine delay, and vaccination status. We repeated analyses for the scale's 4-item …

Nursing Faculty Reports Of Their Intention To Design Instruction To Support Student Learning In Community College Classrooms, Ann-Marie Evans

Nursing Faculty Publications

The purpose of this exploratory case study was to describe community college nursing faculty members' reports of their intention to design instruction to support learning for a broad range of students in their classrooms. Specifically, Ajzen's (1985) Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) was the conceptual framework used to analyze nursing faculty members' reports of their attitudes, normative beliefs, and control beliefs related to the three Universal Design for Learning (CAST, 2011) principles. Ajzen theorized that individuals base their behaviors on intention and intentions are based on the individuals' attitudes toward the behavior, their perceptions of how others wanted them to …

The Relationship Between Nursing Students' Perceptions Of Staff Nurses' Attitudes Towards Them And Self-Efficacy In Sophomore- And Senior- Level Nursing Students, Sarah A. Mueller, Raechel M. Naragon, Rachael R. Smith

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Clinical teaching gives nursing students practical experience, allowing them to practice skills and to apply theories of nursing alongside a staff nurse. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between nursing students’ perceptions of staff nurses’ attitudes towards them and self-efficacy in sophomore- and senior-level nursing students. According to scientist Albert Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory, self-efficacy is defined as a person’s belief in his or her own abilities. Using non-experimental comparative design, convenience sampling, and Likert scale questionnaires, sophomore- and senior- level baccalaureate nursing students were asked to complete the survey using the Nursing Clinical Self-Efficacy …

A Systematic Review: Effects Of Breastfeeding On Early And Late Childhood, Kara Campbell, Samantha Fritz

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Abstract

The topic of the long-term impact of breast milk and formula milk composition on the health status of children continues to be a focus of discussion and research. The aim of this systematic review is to describe and critically appraise current evidence regarding the lasting effects of breastfeeding on health outcomes in children throughout early and late childhood. Twenty-one studies focusing on infant feeding were identified using PubMed, CINAHL, and Medline databases. These studies were then categorized according to health outcomes such as: weight, developmental, and immune system effects. Through a critical appraisal of this evidence, it was found …

Christian Churches Thriving In Revitalized Albania, James R. Payton Jr.

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

Why And How Teachers Transform Their Instruction, Barbara J. Light

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

In his 2011 book The highly qualified teacher: What is teacher quality and how do we measure it? Strong argues that as a profession, education has struggled to measure teacher quality and therefore cannot provide a proven system to consistently develop high-quality teachers. In order to move toward an operational definition of teacher quality, Kennedy, in her 2008 journal article entitled “Contributions of qualitative research to research on teacher qualifications” suggests that the causal mechanisms of the development of teachers who are identified as high-quality teachers must be researched, documented, and then used in teacher preparation and development. Instructional ability …

Health-Related Quality Of Life In Athletes: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis, Megan N. Houston, Matthew C. Hoch, Johanna M. Hoch

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Context: Assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after injury is important. Differences in HRQOL between nonathletes and athletes and between injured and uninjured athletes have been demonstrated; however, the evidence has not been synthesized.

Objective: To answer the following questions: (1) Does HRQOL differ among adolescent and collegiate athletes and nonathletes? (2) Does HRQOL differ between injured adolescent and collegiate athletes or between athletes with a history of injury and uninjured athletes or those without a history of injury?

Data Sources: We systematically searched CINAHL, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, and PubMed. A hand search of references was also conducted.

Study Selection: …

Engaging In Culturally Informed Nursing Care With Hmong Children And Their Families, Shoua Xiong, Nora Degroote, Hayley Byington, Jamie Harder, Krystal Kaminski, Kristin Haglund

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

The Hmong are an ethnic hill tribe group originally from Southern China with concentrated populations throughout Southeast Asia, especially the mountains of northern Laos. Following the Vietnam War, the Hmong started immigrating to the United States in waves to escape prosecution for fighting communism alongside the United States. Today, the Hmong population in the United States is growing rapidly, with a median age of 20.4 years. As the Hmong move and redistribute themselves across the country to be with family or pursue new opportunities, it is more and more likely that nurses everywhere will interact with Hmong children and their …

Concept Analysis: Music Therapy, Carolyn J. Murrock, Abir K. Bekhet

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Down through the ages, music has been universally valued for its therapeutic properties based on the psychological and physiological responses in humans. However, the underlying mechanisms of the psychological and physiological responses to music have been poorly identified and defined. Without clarification, a concept can be misused, thereby diminishing its importance for application to nursing research and practice. The purpose of this article was for the clarification of the concept of music therapy based on Walker and Avant's concept analysis strategy. A review of recent nursing and health-related literature covering the years 2007–2014 was performed on the concepts of music, …

Competencies Of Outstanding Executive Coaches: A Grounded Theory Approach, Kent Mayo Blumberg

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The personal, business, and executive coaching industry is large and growing. In spite of the size and growth of the industry, the coaching research literature reveals a lack of understanding about the competencies of outstanding executive coaches. This grounded-theory study sought to discover a model of executive coach competencies, through in-depth interviews with coaches rated as outstanding by a large purchaser of coaching services. Sixteen coaches participated in the recorded and transcribed interviews. A line-by-line analysis of the transcripts led to a competency model for executive coaching. For the coaching research community, this study will fill a key gap in …