Digital Commons Network^™

Listeners’ Ability To Identify The Gender Of Preadolescent Children In Different Linguistic Contexts, Christopher Dromey, Shawn Nissen, Sharalee Blunck, Anita Dromey

Faculty Publications

This study evaluated listeners’ ability to identify the gender of preadolescent children from speech samples of varying length and linguistic context. The listeners were presented with a total of 190 speech samples in four different categories of linguistic context: segments, words, sentences, and discourse. The listeners were instructed to evaluate each speech sample and decide whether the speaker was a male or female and rate their level of confidence in their decision. Results showed listeners identified the gender of the speakers with a high degree of accuracy, ranging from 86% to 95%. Significant differences in listener judgments were found across …

Pain Or Gain? How Business Communication Students Perceive The Outlining Process, Matt Baker

Faculty Publications

This study investigates how students perceive the outlining process. Students in two business communication sections completed a survey regarding outlining perceptions and reasons for outlining or not. Using qualitative content analysis and qualitative coding, the researcher and an independent coder analyzed 34 students’ responses regarding outlining process, use, and reasons for outlining or not. Results indicate that students perceive outlining as more useful if their outlining process includes both organization and content exploration and less useful if it excludes organization or content exploration. Notable reasons for not outlining include concern for outlining time and difficulty generating content for the outline.

Learner Engagement In Blended Learning Environments: A Conceptual Framework, Lisa R. Halverson, Charles R. Graham

Faculty Publications

Learner engagement correlates with important educational outcomes, including academic achievement and satisfaction. Although research is already exploring learner engagement in blended contexts, no theoretical framework guides inquiry or practice, and little consistency or specificity exists in engagement definitions and operationalizations. Developing definitions, models, and measures of the factors that indicate learner engagement is important to establishing whether changes in instructional methods (facilitators) result in improved engagement (measured via indicators). This article reviews the existing literature on learner engagement and identifies constructs most relevant to learning in general and blended learning in particular. The authors present a possible conceptual framework for …

Interaction, Student Satisfaction, And Teacher Time Investment In Online High School Courses, Chad Turley, Charles R. Graham

Faculty Publications

This case study explores differences between two online course models by investigating the results of a student end-of-course evaluation survey and teacher communication logs in two online high school courses. The two course models were designed with different types and levels of interaction, one with high levels of student-content interaction, the second with high levels of student-content and student-teacher interaction. The majority of research on interaction in online learning has been conducted with adult learners at the university level. There is far less literature focusing on K-12 online learning while investigating interaction, student satisfaction, and teacher time investment. This case …

K–12 Blended Teaching Readiness: Model And Instrument Development, Charles R. Graham, Jered Borup, Emily Pulham, Ross Larsen

Faculty Publications

An increasing number of K–12 schools have adopted blended learning approaches. Current empirical research has been sparse regarding preparing teachers for blended teaching, including the skills they must develop to teach in blended contexts. This research is focused on that weakness, with the purposes of systematically identifying the skills needed for teaching in a blended learning context and of developing and testing an instrument that can be used to determine individual and school-wide readiness for blended teaching. In this study we present a measurement model used to develop items for measuring K–12 blended learning readiness. Specifically the instrument contained the …

Shadow It Use, Outcome Effects, And Subjective Performance Evaluation, Drew Allen, F. Greg Burton, Steven D. Smith, David A. Wood

Faculty Publications

The use of shadow IT (information technology systems not sanctioned or monitored by a company’s IT department) may be seen as either a form of organizational misbehavior or proactive and creative problem-solving. We examine whether these differing possible perceptions have implications for the subjective evaluation of subordinate performance. In our experiment, participants choose whether to award a bonus to an employee when different IT systems are used (normal vs. shadow IT) across different outcome levels (high vs. low outcomes). We find that employees using shadow IT are less likely to receive the bonus in both high and low outcome conditions …

Robotic Process Automation In Public Accounting, Lauren A. Cooper, D. Kip Holderness, Trevor L. Sorensen, David A. Wood

Faculty Publications

This study investigates the adoption and use of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) software— often referred to as bots—in the public accounting industry. Accounting firms use RPA software to automate the input, processing, and output of data across computer applications in order to streamline repetitive and mundane business processes. We conducted individual, semi-structured interviews with 14 accounting professionals including at least two RPA leaders at each of the Big 4 accounting firms to gain insights into how RPA software is currently being used. Interviewees note that bots are implemented in all areas of the firm but have gained the most traction …

Reward Type And Performance: An Examination Of Organizational Wellness Programs, William G. Heninger, Steven D. Smith, David A. Wood

Faculty Publications

We examine organizational control in the context of wellness programs—organizational initiatives designed to improve the physical and mental health of employees. In a field study setting, we examine the associations of three different types of incentives (cash, gift cards, and tangible rewards) with wellness program performance. We find that employees who successfully complete program challenges are associated with greater weight loss. We also find participants choosing gift cards are associated with the greatest program success, even though cash rewards are selected more than twice as often as gift cards. Tangible rewards are the least frequently selected reward and are associated …

Drivers Of International Variation In Prevalence Of Disabling Low Back Pain: Findings From The Cultural And Psychosocial Influences On Disability Study, David Coggon, Georgia Ntani, Keith T. Palmer, Vanda E. Felli, Florencia Harari, Leonardo A. Quintana, Sarah A. Felknor, Marianela Rojas, Anna Cattrell, Muhammad Masood Kadir

Community Health Sciences

Background: Wide international variation in the prevalence of disabling low back pain (LBP) among working populations is not explained by known risk factors. It would be useful to know whether the drivers of this variation are specific to the spine or factors that predispose to musculoskeletal pain more generally.
Methods: Baseline information about musculoskeletal pain and risk factors was elicited from 11 710 participants aged 20-59 years, who were sampled from 45 occupational groups in 18 countries. Wider propensity to pain was characterized by the number of anatomical sites outside the low back that had been painful in …

Needs Assessment Regarding Occupational Health And Safety Interventions Among Textile Workers: A Qualitative Case Study In Karachi, Pakistan, Numan Hussain, Muhammad Masood Kadir, Asaad Ahmed Nafees, Rozina Karmaliani, Tanzil Jamali

Community Health Sciences

Objective: To determine the perceived health and safety needs identified by textile workers, managers and experts as well as direct observation of the prevailing health and safety practices in the textile industry.
Methods: The qualitative study using the needs assessment conceptual framework was conducted in July-August 2015 in Karachi, and comprised focus group discussions with textile workers, in-depth interviews with factory managers and health and safety officers, and key informant interviews with relevant stakeholders and experts. A walk-through survey was also conducted in selected mills for which the Checklist of hazards in textiles was used.
Results: A total of 6focus …

Variation In Interrogative Abverbials: Cuán, Qué Tan, Cómo De, And Lo+ Adj./Adv.+ Que, David E. Eddington

Faculty Publications

Cuán, qué tan, and cómo de are used to modify adverbs and adjectives in interrogatives. They are also used in embedded clauses along with lo+adj./adv.+que. Instances of these expressions were extracted from the Corpus del Español. In interrogatives, qué tan was the most frequent. The idea that cuán is archaic or limited to literary usage is not supported by these data. Cómo de is extremely infrequent except in Peninsular Spanish. In embedded clauses the frequency of these expressions appear in this order of frequency: lo+adj./adv.+que > qué tan > cuán > cómo de. In an experiment, speakers from Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico, …

The Law Of Moses: An Overview, Dan Belnap

Faculty Publications

During the last week of his life, Christ was confronted by a group of Jewish authorities who asked him, “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” (Matthew 22:36). Christ’s answer, that one should love God with all one’s heart, soul, and might (Deuteronomy 6:5), as well as one’s neighbor as oneself (Leviticus 19:18), was then followed by the assertion “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:40). Clearly, in Christ’s day the law of Moses was regarded as providing crucial instruction regarding one’s behavior both with one’s fellow man and with God, and …

The Structure Of Competence: Evaluating The Factor Structure Of The Cognitive Therapy Rating Scale, Scott A. Baldwin, Simon B. Goldberg, Kritzia Merced, Derek D. Caperton, Zac E. Imel, David C. Atkins, Torrey Creed

Faculty Publications

The Cognitive Therapy Rating Scale (CTRS) is an observer-rated measure of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) treatment fidelity. Although widely used, the factor structure and psychometric properties of the CTRS are not well established. Evaluating the factorial validity of the CTRS may increase its utility for training and fidelity monitoring in clinical practice and research. The current study used multilevel exploratory factor analysis to examine the factor structure of the CTRS in a large sample of therapists (n = 413) and observations (n = 1,264) from community-based CBT training. Examination of model fit and factor loadings suggested that three within-therapist factors …

Increasing English Learners’ Positive Emotional Response To Learning Through Dance, Grant Eckstein, Elizabeth Hanks

Faculty Publications

This study investigates dance as an English Second Language (ESL) curriculum enhancement. The curriculum utilizes kinesthetic learning, which is a method seldom incorporated in formal academic classrooms (Pourhosein Gilakjani, 2011) despite evidence suggesting that it benefits all students, including those without kinesthetic learning preferences (Schumann, 1997). Supporters believe that the benefits of incorporating movement in the classroom include increased student enjoyment, motivation, and confidence in learning. However, these beliefs are merely anecdotal at present. This study analyzes quantitative questionnaires and qualitative feedback from 26 students who participated in a 4-week long Dance ESL curriculum to determine whether dance-based learning can …

Efficacy Of Weight Loss Intervention Can Be Predicted Based On Early Alterations Of Fmri Food Cue Reactivity In The Striatum, Petra Hermann, Viktor Gál, István Kóbor, C. Brock Kirwan, Peter Kovacs, Tama Kitkas, Zsuzsanna Lengyel, Eszter Balint, Balázs Varga, Csongor Cseko, Zoltan Vidnyanszky

Faculty Publications

Increased fMRI food cue reactivity in obesity, i.e. higher responses to high- vs. low-calorie food images, is a promising marker of the dysregulated brain reward system underlying enhanced susceptibility to obesogenic environmental cues. Recently, it has also been shown that weight loss interventions might affect fMRI food cue reactivity and that there is a close association between the alteration of cue reactivity and the outcome of the intervention. Here we tested whether fMRI food cue reactivity could be used as a marker of diet-induced early changes of neural processing in the striatum that are predictive of the outcome of the …

[Introduction To] Collateral Values: The Natural Capital Created By Landscapes Of War., Todd R. Lookingbill, Peter D. Smallwood

Bookshelf

This book explores the unanticipated benefits that may arise after wars and conflicts, showing how the preservation of battlefields and the establishment of borderlands can create natural capital in the former landscapes of war. The editors call this Collateral Value, in contrast to the collateral damage that war inflicts upon infrastructure, natural capital, and human capital. The book includes case studies recounting successes and failures, opportunities and risks, and ambitious proposals.

The book is organized in two sections. The first visits U.S., English, and French battlefield sites dating from medieval England to World War I. The second explores borderlands located …

The Evolution Of Cognitive Load Theory And The Measurement Of Its Intrinsic, Extraneous And Germane Loads: A Review, Giuliana Orru, Luca Longo

Conference papers

Cognitive Load Theory has been conceived for supporting instructional design through the use of the construct of cognitive load. This is believed to be built upon three types of load: intrinsic, extraneous and germane. Although Cognitive Load Theory and its assumptions are clear and well-known, its three types of load have been going through a continuous investigation and re-definition. Additionally, it is still not clear whether these are independent and can be added to each other towards an overall measure of load. The purpose of this research is to inform the reader about the theoretical evolution of Cognitive Load Theory …

Message Factors That Favourably Drive Consumer’S Attitudes And Behavioural Intentions Towards Social Network And Media Platforms, Sarhang Majid

Plymouth Business School Theses

As consumers are increasingly utilising social network and media platforms for pre-purchase information, managers are confronted with producing effective social network and media platform (SNMP) messages that can favourably influence buyers’ attitudes and behavioural intentions towards brands and products. To ensure a thorough investigation of this research realm, and to develop awareness of the factors influencing the effectiveness of social media marketing, this study adopted a mixed methods approach involving a combination of both qualitative and quantitative research. An exploratory sequential research design was followed, starting with an in-depth, elite interview investigation with social media marketing experts. Adopting a thematic …

The Holistic Exploration Of The Multifaceted Relationship Between Healthcare Professionals’ Job Satisfaction And Quality Of Care., Moya Lerigo-Sampson

Plymouth Business School Theses

Problem definition: Healthcare is a professional field, which most individuals will encounter at some point in their life, directly or indirectly. In the UK, healthcare organisations are facing significant challenges, including financial pressures, shortages in staffing levels, and changes in the way healthcare is delivered. In addition, patient demand for such healthcare systems has been increasing dramatically year on year, in part, due to societal changes towards unhealthier lifestyles. Consequently, amid such adversities, it is important to understand how these issues are affecting both the providers and receivers of healthcare. Therefore, the current study will explore how healthcare professionals’ job …

A Case Study Of A Flipped Curriculum Using Collaborative And Active Learning With An Adaptive Learning System, Barbra R. Kerns

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This case study examined a graduate medical program in the Western United States that was redesigned to use adaptive learning with active and collaborative classroom learning in a flipped environment. Findings suggested student comprehension of material was as good or better than prior to the redesign, and students were able to complete coursework more efficiently, getting into the clinical environment sooner. Students improved abilities to apply knowledge was due in part to the capabilities of the adaptive system, the collaborative and active learning environment in the classroom, and the rapport and relationships built with the faculty. The multifaceted design of …

Accessing Mental Health Services For Students In Public Schools, Wendy L. Hite

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to learn what practicing Educational leaders state are the competencies needed for school administrators to access school-based mental health services for students. Research questions included what competencies of elementary principals facilitate the provision of mental health services for students in elementary public schools and what administrative structures, policies, and procedures are needed in elementary schools for students to access mental health services. Standards for school administrators in pre-service programs were reviewed to determine if there are gaps in what administrators are taught in pre-service programs versus what knowledge they need to have in …

Factors Predicting Teacher Attitudes Toward Inclusive Education, Michael Mccarthy

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated factors that may predict teacher attitudes toward including students with special needs in the general Education classroom. Factors examined in this study included experience working with children with disabilities, level of training, type of disability of the student, perceived administrative support, and perceived school climate. Past research suggested that these factors, with the exception of perceived school climate, influence teacher attitudes toward inclusive Education. Goals of the present study included determining to what extent each factor may predict teacher attitudes toward inclusion with the addition of perceptions of school climate. 163 elementary and secondary general and special …

Job Satisfaction And Turnover Intention In Higher Education: A Study Ofbailey College Of Engineering And Technology Professionals In The California State University System, Brooke Ferrier Banks

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to survey perceived job satisfaction and turnover intention ofBailey College of Engineering and Technology professionals in the California State University (CSU) system. Employee satisfaction facets (work, pay, opportunities for promotion, supervision, and co-workers), overall satisfaction, and turnover intention were measured. Further, the study identified whether there was a significant difference in perceived job satisfaction or turnover intention based on years of service in the CSU system, gender, or campus in the CSU system. The study also examined the uniqueness ofBailey College of Engineering and Technology professionals at campuses in the CSU system. This study …

Kurdish Culture And Identity: Building The Homeland In Tennessee, Steve Wininger

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Kurds are the largest ethnic group in the world without their own state, and are one of the most controversial, overlooked and understudied ethnic groups in academic research. In the field of communication, there is very little research of the Kurdish diaspora in the United States. Identity is a complex subject in itself, but for the Kurds it is even more complicated because of the controversy surrounding them, their claims, and their status as a stateless ethnic group. The necessity for the Kurds to keep their culture and identity has cost them their freedom, homes, and lives, yet they …

The Effects Of Academic Success Coaching On First-Year Students, Mark A. Minglin

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Student retention has been of increasing concern for college and university administrators for over the last 20 years, but the need for more effective strategies to address retention issues has never been more of a pressing matter than it is today (Allen, D. F. & Bir, 2012). Some research (Bettinger & Baker, 2011; Dansinger, 2000; Griffiths, 2012; Knight, 2012) has identified peer academic success coaching as potential intervention strategy to address the retention issue in higher Education. Relatively few studies have addressed the assessment of these coaching interventions and the majority have been qualitative in nature. The purpose of this …

The Roles Of Absorption In Music Therapy, Michael John Russo

Theses & Dissertations

Absorption refers to the phenomenon of total attentional engagement. The purpose of the current study was to gain a preliminary understanding of the roles that absorption may have in different music therapy approaches. The research questions were: a) How might music therapists know when their clients are in states of absorption?, b) How might absorption influence the ability of music therapy clients to progress towards therapeutic goals?, and c) What is the potential relationship between absorption and music? Three music therapists with self-identified expertise and experience in conceptualizing absorption in music therapy were interviewed about their observations and opinions of …

Understanding Group Dynamics In Dir-Based Improvisational Music Therapy With Autistic Children, Anne Therese Crean

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe the group dynamics of Autistic children in a developmental, individual difference, relationship-based improvisational music therapy group, understand how those dynamics manifested, and to observe changes over time. The primary data source was archived clinical videos from the first, middle, and last sessions of one clinical year. A qualitative content analysis using the Music Therapy Group Improvisation Analysis Model involved a cyclical process of listening, writing descriptive narratives, and analyzing those narratives to develop meaning categories describing the group dynamics. The group dynamics of each session were described individually, and after a process …

The Experience Of Songwriting In Music Therapy For Adults With Intellectual Disability, Jasper Lewis

Theses & Dissertations

This research study investigated the lived experience of adults with Intellectual Disability (ID) in a music therapy songwriting session. Three study participants, referred to here as Emma, Anne, and Abdoul, took part in individual songwriting music therapy sessions. The participants each completed an original song in collaboration with a board certified music therapist. The songs were recorded and the lyrics of the song were transcribed. After the songwriting experience was complete a 10-20 minute semi-structured interview was conducted to gather data about the participants’ subjective experiences. This data was analyzed according to the interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) framework. Themes were …

The Experience Of Female Veterans’ Transitioning To Post—Active— Duty Health Care, Sarah A. Bradwisch

Theses & Dissertations

Problem Statement: Female veterans are growing in record numbers and are the fastest growing segment of the veteran population in the United States(U.S.). After discharge from the military, female veterans face a difficult challenge in finding quality, efficient, and gender-specific health care following active duty. The growing number of female veterans in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care facilities has highlighted gaps in access to care and quality of care for female veterans. Methodology: Interpretive phenomenology was used to better understand the meaning of 11 U.S. female veterans’ experiences. Semi-structured telephone interviews and the analytic approach of Martin …

Starting Off On The Right Foot In Acceptance And Commitment Therapy, Michael P. Twohig, Clarissa W. Ong, Jennifer Krafft, Jennifer L. Barney, Michael E. Levin

Psychology Faculty Publications

This paper describes the initial phase of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). The paper begins with a review of ACT’s theoretical orientation. Basic empirical support for ACT and its model is covered. A case description follows that highlights the initial phases of ACT. The paper concludes with practical recommendations for starting therapy using ACT.

Clinical impact statement:

Question: The goal of this paper is to present the manner in which ACT is initiated. Findings: There are specific theoretical elements of ACT that suggest certain approaches be taken at the beginning of therapy. Meaning: Before starting ACT with a new client, …