Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluating Computerized Math Performance Using Progressive Ratio Schedules In Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Lauren Stroker

Theses and Dissertations

One method of assessing reinforcer strength is to use a progressive ratio (PR) schedule of reinforcement, whereby response requirements to access reinforcers gradually increase. PR schedules have been used to assess reinforcer potency in numerous applications with nonhumans in basic research, children and adults with disabilities, and individuals with histories of substance abuse problems. However, the utility of PR schedules to determine robust reinforcers has not been assessed with children with attention deficit – hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) regarding academic tasks, such as mathematics. The inability to remain on task presents a challenge for teachers in schools, and poses detrimental effects …

The Void Between Us, Hannah D. Blumer

Bachelor of Fine Arts Senior Papers

My interactive thesis installation, The Void Between Us, addresses the topic of human connection in relationship to the body. The human body marks a physical barrier between one’s self and others. While we exist in the same physical sphere as one another, our minds are isolated in our own self-centered versions of reality. Our bodies allow us to perceive others and be perceived—including having verbal communications—and, therefore, could be seen as helpful or restrictive in the social world. However, our bodies also allow us to engage in physical interactions with others, such as sex, which is a means to …

The Effects Of Implementing Close Reading In A Third, Fourth, And Fifth Grade Public School Setting To Improve Student Achievement, Cory Valentine

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this ex-post facto, causal-comparative study is to determine the effects of close reading on student achievement. Close reading is a strategy developed through literary criticism and the influences of I. A. Richards and the New Critics. This study analyzes close reading to determine the most efficient practice to help students develop critical reading, thinking, and written communication skills. The researcher examined 2013 to 2015 New York State English Language Arts Exam data from 10 school districts located in the Broome-Tioga BOCES Region. For the study, 6,040 student exams in Grades 3, 4, and 5 were analyzed. Using …

Gifted With Asperger's Syndrome (Twice-Exceptional): The Difference Post-Graduate Certifications Held Make On Early Childhood Teachers' Knowledge, Terry Wright

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Twice-exceptional students (Gifted with Asperger’s Syndrome) can be difficult for even the experienced teacher. Robust knowledge of Asperger’s Syndrome and Giftedness prepares teachers to meet the needs of these often-unidentified students. The purpose of this cross sectional survey design research was to study how post-graduate certifications held (dependent variable) affected early childhood teacher knowledge (independent variable) of Asperger’s Syndrome and Gifted/talented learner characteristics. From two large suburban school districts and small, private schools in Central Texas, 242 early childhood teachers (pre-k-second grade) participated in three online researcher created instruments entitled Teacher Knowledge of Asperger Characteristics, Teacher Knowledge of Gifted and …

Perceptions Of The Role Physical Activity Plays In Early Childhood Education, Martha Swirzinski

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to describe the perceptions early childhood educators who intentionally implement physical activity into their class day in Eastern Virginia have with regards to using physical activity with preschoolers ages three to five. The theory guiding this study was the social constructivist theory by Lev Vygotsky (1978) which maintains that each individual has a different perspective about any given experience based on their prior experiences and all experiences build upon themselves to create knowledge. The constructivist theory suggests learners must interact with their environments to gain new knowledge (Ogunnaike, 2015). The basic …

Qualitative Collective Case Study Of Targeted Violence Preparedness At Institutions Of Higher Education, Tim Gunter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

An increase in targeted violence incidents (TVIs), primarily active shooter events, at institutions of higher education (IHEs) has exposed gaps in campus security plan preparation and exercises. The purpose of this qualitative collective case study was to discover barriers to and best practices of universities and colleges conducting security preparedness activities for TVIs. The theory that guided this study was vested interest theory which predicts how attitudes will influence behavior in a commitment to preparedness fundamentals. The setting for this study was two institutions of higher education along the East Coast of the United States. Data collection techniques included site …

The Creation And Examination Of An Index Of High School Grade Point Average And Sat Score To Predict College Performance, Todd Wadsworth

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A variable derived from commonly available performance metrics was created. The derived variable was an index created from the quotient of each student's high school cumulative grade point average and SAT composite test score. Its predictive validity for college performance of both first-semester males and females was examined. The data used in the study was archival and obtained from a college freshmen cohort of 544 students. The analysis was carried out by conducting three separate bivariate correlation analyses. Descriptive statistics of the index were also reported, both as a whole and disaggregated by sex. The descriptive statistics included means, variances, …

Every Life Matters To God: A New Paradigm Of Care For Suicide Prevention, Antonio Campbell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Since 2001, National Guard soldiers and airmen have been ordered to multiple deployments In Iraq and Afghanistan. The Department of Defense (DOD) has released data that shows a dramatic increase in suicides by military personnel. This author has chosen this topic to develop a pastoral care strategy, by civilian clergy and/or military chaplains, to help lessen the number of suicides by National Guard personnel. The research will introduce a strategy in which pastoral care practitioners can be actively involved in the therapeutic counseling of National Guard soldiers and airmen who may be at risk. Currently, there is a lack of …

Physical Education, Art, And Music Teachers' Lived Experiences With Students Who Have Adhd Or Adhd Symptoms, Kellie Henry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to discover the lived experiences of teaching students with ADHD for art, music, and physical education teachers at elementary schools. The theories guiding this study are Zentall’s (1975) Optimal Stimulation Theory and Ajzen’s (1991) Theory of Planned Behavior as they explain how teachers’ attitudes and use of stimulation in the classroom affects the central phenomenon. This transcendental phenomenological study was based on actual descriptions of elementary special area teachers’ lived experiences with students who have ADHD. The design included a review of the literature, epoche, phenomenological reduction, imaginative variation, and synthesis of …

The Relationships Between School Climate, Teacher Self-Efficacy, And Teacher Beliefs, Paige Lacks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study examined the relationship between school climate, teacher self-efficacy, and teacher beliefs. Teachers at two middle schools in rural southern Virginia participated in the study. Middle school teachers were surveyed using the School Climate Index to collect information about teacher-perceived views on their school’s climate and the Teacher Sense of Efficacy Scale to gather information about teacher self-efficacy. Pearson Product-Moment Correlations were used to measure the relationship between school climate and teacher self-efficacy as well as teacher self-efficacy and four teacher-perceived climate factors, including collegial leadership, teacher professionalism, academic press, and community engagement. Data analysis did not provide …

The Effect Of Group Counseling Intervention On The Performance Of Rural Students On The Georgia High School Graduation Tests, Donna Caudel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

With an increase in high-stakes testing, educators continue to search for the best methodologies for assisting students in maximizing academic achievement and successful completion of graduation requirements including mandatory tests for high school graduation. At the time of this study, students graduating from Georgia high schools were required to pass five academic subject area tests in order to receive a high school diploma. Psychometric theory, social cognitive theory, and cognitive behavioral theory provided the theoretical framework for this study. Students from a rural high school in Georgia comprised the sample. This quantitative study employed a posttest-only control group design with …

An Examination Of Motivational Levels Of Non-Traditional Undergraduate Business And Education Majors, Kristopher Bradshaw

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research dissertation was developed for the purpose of advancing the literature in the realm of student motivation. Previous research in the field has placed little emphasis on the adult, non-traditional student population. Adult, non-traditional students represents an important part of the higher education climate in the United States and the unique motivators of this population needs further examination in order to more closely align academic programs and services with motives and goals. The research questions seek to answer if a significant difference exists between the intrinsic and extrinsic motivational levels of business majors compared to education majors in the …

The Role Of Spirituality And Religiosity In Persons Living With Sickle Cell Disease, Dora L. Clayton-Jones, Kristin Haglund

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a serious debilitating chronic illness, affecting approximately 90,000 Americans and millions globally. Spirituality and religiosity (S/R) may ease the burden faced by persons living with SCD. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of S/R in adolescents and adults living with SCD in the research literature.

Method: The electronic databases Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Health Source Nursing/Academic, ProQuest Health Module, PsycINFO, Medline, PubMed, and the American Theological Library Association were searched from January 1995 to December 2014.

Findings: Of the 89 studies retrieved, 11 articles between 2001 …

Family Profile Of Victims Of Child Abuse And Neglect In The Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia, Ghulam Nabi

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Barriers Related To Prenatal Care Utilization Among Women, Nasibeh Roozbeh, Fatemeh Nahidi, Sepideh Hajiyan

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives To investigate barriers related to prenatal care utilization among women. Methods Data was collected in both English and Persian databases. English databases included: the International Medical Sciences, Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar. The Persian databases included: the Iranmedex, the State Inpatient Databases (SID) with the use of related keywords, and on the basis of inclusion-exclusion criteria. The keywords included are barrier, prenatal care, women, access, and preventive factors. OR and AND were Boolean operators. After the study, articles were summarized, unrelated articles were rejected, and related articles were identified. Inclusion criteria were all published articles from 1990 …

Effects Of Personality Traits On Collaborative Performance In Problem-Based Learning Tutorials, Hye Won Jang, Seung Won Park

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives To examine the relationship between students’ collaborative performance in a problem-based learning (PBL) environment and their personality traits. Methods This retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted using student data of a PBL program between 2013 and 2014 at Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. Eighty students were included in the study. Student data from the Temperament and Character Inventory were used as a measure of their personality traits. Peer evaluation scores during PBL were used as a measure of students’ collaborative performance. Results Simple regression analyses indicated that participation was negatively related to harm avoidance and positively related …

Prevalence Of Obesity In Elementary School Children And Its Association With Dental Caries, Deema J. Farsi, Heba M. Elkhodary, Leena A. Merdad, Najat M.A. Farsi, Sumer M. Alaki, Najlaa M. Alamoudi, Haneen A. Bakhaidar, Mohammed A. Alolayyan

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives To investigate the prevalence of obesity among elementary school children and to examine the association between obesity and caries activity in the mixed dentition stage. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between September 2014 and June 2015 using a multi-stage stratified sample of 915 elementary school children (482 boys, 433 girls) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Anthropometric measurements, consisting of height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC), were obtained. Children were classified as underweight/healthy, overweight, or obese and as non-obese or obese according to their BMI and WC, …

Religiosity Among Muslims: A Scale Development And Validation Study, Nor Diana Mohd Mahudin, Noraini Mohd Noor, Mariam Adawiah Dzulkifli, Nazariah Shari’E Janon

Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia

While religiosity as a field of inquiry has been gaining research interest in recent years, a central issue about its conceptualisation, measurement, and relationships with work outcomes remains unresolved. The aims of this paper are: (1) to introduce a new scale designed to measure religiosity among Muslims, based on an Islamic perspective that centres on the bodily action or human activity (Islam), the mind or understanding of God (iman), and the spirit or actualisation of virtue and goodness (ihsan); and (2) to demonstrate how religiosity relates to various work outcomes. We followed a rigorous multi-steps scale development procedure using four …

Being A Scholar In The Digital Era: Transforming Scholarly Practice For The Public Good, Polly Thistlethwaite, Jessie Daniels

Publications and Research

What opportunities do digital technologies present scholars? How do developments in digital media support scholarship and teaching, and how can academics apply them to further social justice activism? The authors, a sociologist and a librarian, examine scholarly practice in the digital era to explore how academics, journalists, and activists can combine efforts to support social justice issues. With scholarly communication undergoing rapid change, and with digital innovation applied in higher education for many reasons, authors outline what scholars can do to channel their work to benefit the public good.

The Façade Of Voice Opportunity And Intragroup Conflict, Syed Imad Shah, Asad Shahjehan, Bilal Afsar

Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia

The positive consequences of offering employees opportunities to express their opinions about the matters, concerns, and decisions related to their roles have been largely recognized (Bellavance, Landry, & Schiehll, 2013). These include a sense of ownership, inclusion, fairness of decisions, respect, and increased decisions acceptance by employees. However, rarely do any write about the potential negative outcomes of such organizational policies, specifically if they are deceitfully implemented. This research argues that under conditions where managers disregard the appropriate benefits of such policies, but implement them anyway for an apparent semblance of employee-consideration or due to organizational policy directives, this may …

Latour’S Aime, Indigenous Critique, And Ontological Turns In A Mexican Psychiatric Hospital: Approaching Registers Of Visibility In Three Conceptual Turns, Beatriz M. Reyes-Foster

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The “ontological turn” presents an opportunity to re-examine anthropological engagements with various phenomena across multiple modes of existence. One possible terrain for engagement is the acute ward of a psychiatric hospital in Yucatan, Mexico, where psychiatrists, patients, and various invisible beings coexist. By examining the actions and words of patients and doctors in the ward, I consider Latour’s engagement with invisible beings in his recent publication, AIME, alongside critiques from indigenous scholars who argue that scholarship in the ontological turn ignores indigenous frames of reference that already grant ontological status to nonhumans. I engage in an ontological reading of the …

Family Factors That Characterize Adolescents With Severe Obesity And Their Role In Weight Loss Surgery Outcomes., Meg H. Zeller, Sanita Hunsaker, Carmen Mikhail, Jennifer Reiter-Purtill, Mary Beth Mccullough, Beth Garland, Heather Austin, Gia Washington, Amy Baughcum, Dana Rofey, Kevin Smith, Teenview Study Group And In Collaboration With The Teen-Labs Consortium

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Objective: To comprehensively assess family characteristics of adolescents with severe obesity and whether family factors impact weight loss outcomes following weight loss surgery (WLS).

Methods: Multisite prospective data from 138 adolescents undergoing WLS and primary caregivers (adolescent: Mage = 16.9; MBMI = 51.5 kg/m2 ; caregiver: Mage = 44.5; 93% female) and 83 nonsurgical comparators (NSComp: adolescent: Mage = 16.1; MBMI = 46.9 kg/m2 ; caregiver: Mage = 43.9; 94% female) were collected using standardized measures at presurgery/baseline and at 1 and 2 years.

Results: The majority (77.3%) of caregivers had obesity, with rates of caregiver WLS significantly higher in …

The Meaning Of Nursing Education As Described By Students With Learning Disabilities, Jacqueline Lee Reep-Jarmin

Theses and Dissertations

The numbers of students with learning disabilities (LD) in post-secondary education settings is rising (National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 2016). The Americans with Disabilities Act, Amendments Act was passed in 2008, since that time little research has been done to reflect any impact of the original ADA (1990) being amended. Research is needed about the experiences of students with learning disabilities in higher education, and more specifically nursing education. The purpose of this study was to develop an understanding of the lived experience of nursing education from the perspective of students with learning disabilities, and delineate the essence of …

A Qualitative Analysis Of The Health Informatics Role In Addressing The Public Health Crisis Of Addiction And Overall Effectiveness Of Treatment, Daniel Del Toro

Applied Research Projects

In recent years, the implementation of Health Information Management (HIM) data systems has had significant positive impacts in nearly all aspects of both health and healthcare delivery. However, during this time, there has also been a dramatic increase in the demand for addiction and mental health treatment. The rising number of individuals requiring mental health treatment for addiction has resulted in its declaration as an urgent public health epidemic by the Department of Health and Human Services. The all-encompassing effects of addiction are prevalent in all areas of society, seen in the form of across-the-board rising healthcare costs, addiction related …

Global Research Priorities To Accelerate Early Child Development In The Sustainable Development Era, Tarun Dua, Mark Tomlinson, Elizabeth Tablante, Pia Britto, Aisha Khizar Yousafzai, Bernadette Daelmans, Gary L. Darmstadt

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

No abstract provided.

Quality Of Life After Stroke In Pakistan, Wardah Khalid, Shafquat Rozi, Tazeen S. Ali, Iqbal Azam Syed, Michael Mullen, Saleem Illyas, Qamarunnisa, Nabila Soomro, Ayeesha Kamran Kamal

Department of Medicine

Background: There is very little information about the quality of life (QOL) of stroke survivors in LMIC countries with underdeveloped non communicable health infrastructures, who bear two thirds of the global stroke burden.

Methodology: We used a sequential mix methods approach. First, a quantitative analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 700 participants, who constituted 350 stroke survivor and their caregiver dyads. QOL of stroke survivor was assessed via Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale (SSQOLS) whereas QOL of caregivers was assessed through RAND-36. In addition; we assessed complications, psychosocial and functional disability of stroke survivors. Following this quantitative survey, …

Retrograde Bullet Migration From Inferior Vena Cava Into Right Common Iliac Vein Following Gunshot: A Case Report, Ibrahim Zahid, Hamza Abdur Rahim Khan, Omar Irfan, Benish Fatima,, Maha Tahir, Muhammad Tariq, Fazal Wahab Khan, Saulat H. Fatimi

Department of Surgery Docs

Abstract

Bullet embolization cases are rare and even rarer are its retrograde migration in the veins. We report the case of a 14 year old male with a gunshot wound to the left side of his chest. CT scan revealed bilateral haemothorax and foreign body in the right common iliac vein. The patient was immediately taken to the operating theatre and median sternotomy performed. Bullet entry tear was found in the inferior vena cava however, the bullet was found lodged in the right common iliac vein and slipped down against the flow of blood. The bullet was left in situ …

Mturk 101: An Introduction To Amazon Mechanical Turk For Extension Professionals, Jodi Dworkin, Pooja Brar, Heather Hessel, Jessie Rudi

Journal of Extension

Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) is an online marketplace for labor recruitment that has become a popular platform for data collection. In particular, MTurk can be a valuable tool for Extension professionals. As an example, MTurk workers can provide feedback, write reviews, or give input on a website design. In this article we discuss the many uses of MTurk for Extension professionals and provide best practices for its use.

Using Importance-Performance Analysis To Guide Extension Needs Assessment, Laura A. Warner, Anil Kumar Chaudhary, Alexa J. Lamm

Journal of Extension

Importance-performance analysis is a methodology that may allow Extension professionals to prioritize the characteristics of an issue, a resource, or so on that should receive the most attention. Through this approach, high priority is assigned to elements that clients are unsatisfied with but view as highly important. We explored applying the method to the selection of messages on water conservation. Findings are presented in the context of water conservation programming, but implications may apply across Extension. We recommend that Extension professionals consider using this methodology to analyze target audiences and prioritize associated communications.

The Role Of Nutrition Education And Active Choice To Increase Fruit And Vegetable Consumption Among Second Grade Students During Lunchtime, Robyn M. Cafiero

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Fruit and vegetable intake within the United States is considerably lower than the standards set by the United States Department of Agriculture. With this information, there is no surprise that these rates are especially low for school aged children. Although many studies have tried to incorporate programs that would effectively increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables among youngsters, many have fallen short with being able to sustain consumption over time. This study provided a way to increase fruit and vegetable consumption during lunchtime for second grade students by using a dual module of the Social Cognitive Theory and active …