Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring Systemic Reform In Criminal Justice For Afro-Americans Based On Critical Policy Ethnography, Cozetta Butts Lamore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The persistent disproportionate rates of Afro-American involvement within the criminal justice system at all levels have resulted in historic levels of unexplained mass incarceration. Despite federal guidance, the pandemic of unexplained mass incarceration persists. Some studies have noted that the lack of academic attention may be one of the primary reasons for the lack of change. Others have noted the need for centering and lifting the perspective of those who have been most impacted by these racial disparities. The intent of this study was to offer a qualitative close-up examination and analysis from the perspective of impacted populations. The ecological …

Barriers To Technology Integration Perceived By Kindergarten Through Second-Grade Teachers, Jessica Levine

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A problem exists in southeastern United States where technology integration is limited in classrooms. Although researchers have found benefits for integrating technology, it was unknown why teachers were not integrating technology into instruction. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of teachers of kindergarten through second-grade students about the barriers for integrating technology into instruction and the support needed to effectively integrate technology. There have been studies about the barriers to technology integration experienced by teachers; however, it was uncertain what these barriers were for kindergarten through second-grade teachers. Bandura’s self-efficacy theory was the conceptual …

Strategies To Combat Counterfeit Products In Eswatini, Siphiwe Promise Mainjeni

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractManagers of luxury brands lack strategies to deal with counterfeit products’ influence on their brands. The failure to maintain processes to avoid counterfeits in business can adversely impact business profitability and sustainability. Grounded in the resource-based view framework, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies managers of luxury brands in Eswatini, Sub-Saharan Africa, use to avoid counterfeits in their brands. Participants were nine business leaders from nine luxury brand businesses in Eswatini, Sub-Saharan Africa, who implemented strategies to prevent counterfeits in their brands. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and reviews of company reports. Through …

The Experience Of Affection Expressed Between Black Male Friends, David Manning

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAffectionate communication supports the maintenance and sustenance of long-term relationships for the purposes of survival and procreation. Friendship has been identified as one of the most significant relationships throughout an individual’s lifespan, supporting improved mental and physical health. This qualitative study explored the expressions of affection experienced within Black male friend dyads. Two research questions were posed, what is the experience of Black men receiving and giving affection to other Black men within the context of friendships? Also, are the affectionate needs of Black men being met within their Black male friendships? Affectionate exchange theory and social learning theory were …

Novice Teachers’ Perceptions Of Liminality In Building Self-Efficacy Through Technology During Covid-19 Closures, Ashley Jane Mcintyre

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic created a social-educational problem in understanding how novice teachers developed self-efficacy through technology amidst distance learning. Exploring the social-educational problem of novice teachers’ liminality and construction of self-efficacy during coronavirus-related school closures is an emerging issue that justifies further research. A gap in research and understanding currently exists regarding novice teachers’ establishment of self-efficacy and liminal experience as first-year professionals during COVID-19-related school closures. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how novice teachers developed self-efficacy through technology amidst the liminal first-time experiences of distance learning. To explore this topic, three concepts were used: the …

Impact Of 9/11 Attacks And Federal Funding On The National Guard’S Organizational And Operational Focus, Michael Christopher Mcmahon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a problem in the United States national security enterprise related to the National Guard’s organizational responsibilities to state and federal governments, and it was unknown whether this hybrid structure caused capabilities to diverge between pre-9/11 and post-9/11 national security priorities. This quantitative study’s purpose was to investigate the use of Congressional funding to determine how and to what degree the National Guard’s capabilities diverged from the United States national security priorities from pre-9/11 to post-9/11 periods. Organizational change and stream analysis conceptual frameworks identified organizational challenges in overcoming inertia and resistance to change. The statistical analysis included public …

The Damages Of Outstanding Veterans Disability Compensation Claims, Lisa Marie Mckinney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Department of Veterans Affairs failed to process service disability claims promptly, which resulted a backlog from 1993 to present. This impacted veterans by limiting medical care and affected their quality of life. For the past 30 years or longer, military veterans have complained about their quality of life and the status of their service-connected disability claim. The fundamental purpose of the study was to discover how veterans’ quality of life was affected while waiting for their final word on disability comprehensive benefits and or their appeal cases. Human resource theory and the Institutional Analysis and Development assessment were used …

Behavioral Responses Of Breeding Ducks To Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Surveys And Best Practices For Breeding Waterfowl Surveys Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Mason Ryckman

Theses and Dissertations

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have become a popular wildlife survey tool. As such, biologists are exploring the use of UAVs for surveying waterfowl. The most cited benefit of using UAVs over traditional methods is the idea of reduced disturbance, but this has had limited formal evaluation across species. We conducted UAV surveys with associated behavioral observations of ducks on wetlands and on nests during the 2019 – 2020 breeding seasons. We found species-specific behaviors among blue-winged teal (Spatula discors), northern shoveler (Spatula clypeata), and gadwall (Mareca strepera) including ducks noticing the aircraft, but reactions were generally less than traditional ground …

Ice Hockey Goaltender Performance: Examining The Role Of Basic Psychological Needs And Self-Determined Motivation, Nathan Dean Speidel

Theses and Dissertations

Ice hockey goaltending is a physically and mentally challenging task within a complex sport. Although goaltending has been shown to contribute more to team success outcomes than any other ice hockey position, goalies are often misunderstood and either under or improperly coached. As a result, goaltenders, coaches, parents, and hockey organizations alike express a need for deeper understanding of the position, especially its mental aspects. Motivation has long been considered a foundational factor for athletic success and continues to be recognized as essential for athlete performance and overall well-being. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze fundamental psychosocial …

Helping Students From Refugee Backgrounds Succeed In Higher Education Through Support Systems, Arinola Adebayo

Theses and Dissertations

Like every student enrolled in a higher education institution, students from refugee backgrounds are not only concerned about how to get into college, but how to connect with the support systems available to them on campus. The purpose of this research was to examine the social support systems available to college students from refugee backgrounds while on campus, the resources these students engaged in to keep them connected to college, and how they tapped into available resources to be successful in achieving their higher educational career and goals. Using qualitative methods, this research used an intrinsic-embedded, single-case design case study. …

The Impact Of Stress Dependent Permeability Alteration On Gas Based Eor In The Bakken Formation, Ailin Assady

Theses and Dissertations

Effective stress exerted on porous rocks can change and alter reservoir permeability accordingly during reservoir development. The permeability evolution under different reservoir statues will impact oil production and EOR design in the Bakken shale porous media. An accurate permeability model can improve capturing the fluid transport mechanism and create a reliable long-term dynamic fluid forecast via reservoir simulation. This research is focused on studying permeability alteration behavior under different pressure circumstances. The reservoir gradually loses its original pore pressure during production, increasing reservoir net effective stress. Therefore, a reduction in reservoir properties such as permeability or porosity can occur in …

Thermal Stability And Decomposition Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (Pfas) Using Granular Activated Carbon And Other Porous Materials, Pavankumar Challa Sasi

Theses and Dissertations

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are anthropogenic chemicals that have been produced for decades as either processing aids or individual ingredients in many industrial and commercial products, including aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs), non-stick cookware, and fast-food packaging. PFOA and PFOS have been reported in >95% of blood samples collected during multiple U.S. national surveys at concentrations that are a risk to human health. Thermal treatment is routinely used to reactivate the spent granular activated carbon (GAC) from water purification facilities. The aims of this study were: (1) to improve our understanding of the thermal stability of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances; …

Development Of The Share Your Story Program: Understanding How Self-Stigma And Mental Health Storytelling Influence Mental Health Experiences On College Campuses, Kyle Cromer Elliott

Theses and Dissertations

Mental health is a growing concern faced by college administrators. Self-stigma is a major barrier preventing mental health utilization and recovery on college campuses. The purpose of this research study is to understand how self-stigma influences the mental health experiences of college students.

The research study builds upon narrative inquiry—Honest, Open, Proud (HOP)—and the author’s lived experiences with mental health conditions to answer the research question: “How does self-stigma influence students’ mental health experiences on college campuses?”

Findings indicate that self-stigma and self-acceptance impacted if, how, and with whom research study participants shared their mental health conditions. Findings also show …

Evaluating Virtual Reality And Artificial Intelligence As Solutions For Delayed Flight Progress In Aviation Pilot Training, Ryan Paul Guthridge

Theses and Dissertations

Three studies in this dissertation examined a topic centered around delayed flight progress in aviation pilot training. Study one explored the impact of nonconcurrent flight laboratory training on the academic outcomes of collegiate aviation students, while studies two and three explored virtual reality and artificial intelligence as potential solutions to help alleviate the strain of delayed flight progress on the flight training organization. In the first study (n = 144), it was found that concurrent enrollment in an aviation classroom ground course and flight training laboratory positively impacts the mean academic block exam scores of students. In study two (n …

The Effect Of Mineral Composition On Elastic Properties Of The Bakken Formation In The Williston Basin, North Dakota, John Albert Harju

Theses and Dissertations

Hydrocarbon production from tight oil and/or shale plays requires drilling horizontal wells with very long laterals and hydraulic fracturing operations to stimulate the reservoirs which have generally very low porosity and permeability. A great amount of experience has been accumulated over the past two decades in the North America from production of these types of reservoirs. The Bakken formation in North Dakota, is one of the largest tight oil producers in the U.S.A. and currently ranks as the second largest producer of oil in the nation. The Bakken formation is divided into the upper and lower shale members, which are …

Instructional Coach Professional Learning: Developing Reflective Practices, Cultural Competence, And Self-Efficacy In An Asynchronous Course, Mena Hill

Theses and Dissertations

Effective instructional coaching programs have the potential to promote the development of reflective practices, cultural competence, and self-efficacy of educators, but require intentional professional development for coaches. This research inquiry examines instructional coach participants’ reflective practices, cultural competence, and self-efficacy after participating in an eight-week asynchronous Coach-Teacher Partnership Toolkit (CTPT) professional development course and the effects of the CTPT course on their coaching practices (Hill, 2021c). This study also examines teacher perceptions of cultural competence and reflective practice development as related to organizational and instructional coaching supports.

Results of the study indicate instructional coaches desire ongoing and purposeful professional development …

Small Mammal Community Ecology In A Northern Grassland, Lynda Lafond

Theses and Dissertations

I studied grassland small mammal community ecology at UND’s Oakville Prairie, in Grand Forks County, North Dakota summers 2018-2021. Specifically, I was interested in small mammal richness and abundance, investigating their habitat associations, investigating their phenotypic variation, and understanding their diets. I trapped small mammals for five consecutive nights at the end of June to early July 2018 – 2021. I also measured plant community composition and structure metrics. Over the four years, I captured 985 individuals from 11 species. Species richness and abundance varied spatially and temporally across the site. I most frequently captured meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus), mice …

The Lived Experience Of Chinese International Students Seeking Internships During Optional Practical Training (Opt) Program, Yue Lyu

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of Chinese international students currently in search of internship positions during their Optional Practical Training (OPT) program after completing their degrees in the United States. Specifically, this study employed an interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) for exploring participants’ experiences during the internship-seeking process—encompassing aspects such as their perceived employment barriers, the impacts of this experience on their mental and physical well-being, as well as their resources, and coping strategies. A total of four (4) superordinate themes emerged from the results. Participants described their perceived external and internal barriers that led to adverse impacts on …

A Face Recognition Method Using Deep Learning To Identify Mask And Unmask Objects, Saroj Mishra

Theses and Dissertations

At the present, the use of face masks is growing day by day and it is mandated in most places across the world. People are encouraged to cover their faces when in public areas to avoid the spread of infection which can minimize the transmission of Covid-19 by 65 percent (according to the public health officials). So, it is important to detect people not wearing face masks. Additionally, face recognition has been applied to a wide area for security verification purposes since its performance, accuracy, and reliability [15] are better than any other traditional techniques like fingerprints, passwords, PINs, and …

Characterization Of Vertical Growth Of Fractures In Layered Formations, Vibhas Jagdish Pandey

Theses and Dissertations

Hydraulic fracturing treatments are routinely pumped in oil and gas wells worldwide to enhance production and manage the economic recovery of hydrocarbon reserves. The uplift in the production after a fracture stimulation job depends on several parameters, of which optimal coverage of the payzone by the treatment is one of the more important ones. The vertical growth of hydraulic fractures thus is a topic of great interest amongst researchers because of its ability to influence the outcome of a stimulation treatment.

The modeling and prediction of fracture height, especially in layered formations, is a challenging task given the associated complexities …

Internet Training Modules Targeting Home-Based Parent Involvement With Students In Early Childhood Special Education, Nicole Marie Reybok

Theses and Dissertations

Parental engagement is an essential element in the social-emotional and academic achievement of students. However, barriers to this involvement continue to exist. Barriers may take many forms including time, school and staff perceptions and bias, power dynamic, communication with teachers, curriculum, and differences in language and culture. Barriers to parent engagement are typically increased for parents of children with special education needs. Therefore, it is the responsibility of school staff to identify barriers that may exist for families and help them to develop solutions to overcome those barriers. This quantitative study investigated possible barriers to home-based parent involvement in Early …

Investigating Gender Diversity, Equity, And Inclusivity And Students’ Experiences Within Collegiate Team-Based Learning Environments, Marissa Elizabeth Saad

Theses and Dissertations

As the United States works towards strengthening and diversifying the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workforce, many national charges aim to increase the quantity of female participants, while overlooking how systematic barriers affect the quality of female students’ education. Many STEM workforce development programs, such as the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, are committed to improving the nation’s diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI) efforts, enabling technical education through hands-on team-based learning (TBL) environments.

The purpose of this study was to take a holistic approach to assess how gender DEI in STEM team environments influence the quality of …

Effective Differentiation Strategies For Engaging English Language Learners In The General Education Classroom: An Implementation Study, Renee Ullom

Theses and Dissertations

Because of the growing population of English Language Learners (ELL) (U.S. Department of Education, 2020) and lack of time, training, and resources for teachers, there is an intense need for identification of effective differentiation strategies for teachers to implement in the general education classroom, which allows ELL students to engage in grade-level curriculum while acquiring English. This mixed methods research study examines who ELL students are, barriers to success faced by ELL students, barriers to teachers when planning and delivering curriculum in the general education classroom. The investigation additionally explores the identification and implementation of effective differentiation strategies for ELL …

Data Driven Approach To Saltwater Disposal (Swd) Well Location Optimization In North Dakota, Kalyanaraman Venugopal

Theses and Dissertations

The sharp increase in oil and gas production in the Williston Basin of North Dakota since 2006 has resulted in a significant increase in produced water volumes. Primary mechanism for disposal of produced water is by injection into underground Inyan Kara formation through Class-II Saltwater Disposal (SWD) wells. With number of SWD wells anticipated to increase from 900 to over 1400 by 2035, localized pressurization and other potential issues that could affect performance of future oil and SWD wells, there was a need for a reliable model to select locations of future SWD wells for optimum performance. Since it is …

Road To Recovery: Social Acknowledgement, Disclosure And Self-Labeling Of Victims/Survivors Of Sexual Violence, Madison Waldron

Theses and Dissertations

Object: Sexual violence affects 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men. The purpose of the current study was to assess the effects of social acknowledgement, self-labeling, and disclosure on active coping after experiencing sexual violence. Method: A sample of 174 young adults completed an online study which included questionnaires about past unwanted sexual experiences, social acknowledgment, disclosure, self-label, a timeline follow-back, and coping. Results: The results indicated that there was a significant main effect for social acknowledgement scores based upon label (p = .009). Participants who chose the “both” label felt more socially acknowledged compared to those who …

Retired Indigenous And Non-Indigenous College Student Athletes' Mental Health Relating To Athletic Identity, Cultural Identity, And Career Transition, Victoria Williams

Theses and Dissertations

To date, empirical studies have investigated the transition or retirement phase, following the conclusion of a student-athletes’ four-year career as a comparison between student-athletes and non-athletes. Specifically, when investigating these constructs, researchers have failed to thoroughly investigate the role cultural identity may play in mitigating psychological symptoms during the transition phase. As such, this study will seek to investigate both Indigenous and non-Indigenous retired college student- athletes, during the transition phase, in terms of the degree to which they identified with their athletic identity, cultural identity and career transition. It is expected those retired Indigenous and non-Indigenous student- athletes who …

Development Of Silicon-Based Anodes With Coal-Derived Materials For High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries, Shuai Xu

Theses and Dissertations

The increasing demands on high energy density and long cycling life in electronics and energy storage systems require lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with higher capacity anodes to replace the present commercial anode, graphite, which has a limited capacity of only 372 mAh g-1. Silicon-based materials (silicon and silicon suboxides) are among the most attractive alternative because of their high theoretical capacity but can hardly reach commercialization due to numerous technical and engineering barriers. The effort in this dissertation focuses on improving the electrochemical performance of SiO and Si anode materials, trying to pave a way to a greener and cleaner energy …

The Z Factor: Generation Z And The Perspectives Of Recruitment Professionals On Sustaining Small Private Liberal Arts Institutions During A Decade Of Expected Decline In Higher Education Enrollment, Shawn Adkins

Theses and Dissertations

The increased competitive nature of higher education institutions has caused many small private liberal arts colleges/universities to struggle economically. The cost of keeping such institutions viable is high. Many institutions have had to raise tuitions rates, which resulted in decreased enrollment numbers. As a result, many institutions have been struggling; some even closing. The influences and interferences of college choice among current college-aged students (known as Generation Z) were reviewed with recruitment professionals from a handful of such institutions for this qualitative, constructivist grounded theory study. Data was collected by reviewing relevant research literature and conducting interviews with participants from …

Traditional And Technology-Enhanced Learning: Faculty Perspectives And Student Experiences And Satisfaction In An Art & Design Program During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Cynthia Margaret Boehm

Theses and Dissertations

Digital skills are essential in today’s digital age, which means that students require technology-enhanced skills in higher education to succeed in their future careers. In this study, faculty and students in an Art & Design (A&D) program at a Midwestern university were surveyed regarding their perspectives and experiences. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this university changed its teaching and learning strategy by offering courses online during the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters, where quarantine was mandatory. Still, the A&D program did not provide all courses online. This study included online surveys based on three constructs of quality of studio learning, …

They May Not Believe You Remembered That Nose: Juror Perceptions Of Eyewitness' Featural Justifications, Mary Cops

Theses and Dissertations

The featural justification effect occurs when an eyewitness provides a confidence statement at the time of lineup identification that includes reference to a facial feature or component that aided them in their identification (Dodson & Dobolyi, 2015, 2017, 2018; Slane & Dodson, 2019). The result of the effect, found across several manipulations, is that jurors tend to discredit the confidence of an eyewitness that references a facial feature (such as eyes, nose, chin) in the identification statement. The current studies examined featural justification, along with eyewitness viewing conditions and legal safeguards. Participants were presented with either expert testimony (study 1) …