Digital Commons Network^™

Dental Modification Among The Classic Maya Of Chac Balam And San Juan, Ambergris Caye, Belize, Katherine Kelly

Honors Theses

Perceptions of beauty and health are embedded within everyday actions, even a simple smile. How do dental modification practices among the Classic Maya from Ambergris Caye, Belize relate to these perceptions and a person’s identity and status? This thesis analyzes the practice of notching, filing, and placing inlays in maxillary incisors and canines through a qualitative analysis of Classic period AD 250-1000 Maya teeth from the sites of San Juan and Chac Balam. A lack of patterns related to sex, socioeconomic status, and the type of modification in the dentition of five individuals, including two males, two females and one …

The Intersection Of Consensual Non-Monogamy, Black Identity, And Power Dynamics: A Review And Proposal For Therapeutic Models, Casey Nelson

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Consensual non-monogamy (CNM) and polyamory are types of relationship structures that differ in many ways from monogamy. CNM is becoming more prevalent (Moors, 2023; Scoats & Campbell, 2022). In the United States and Canada, 1 in 5 people have engaged in some form of CNM (Moors, 2023). As more individuals engage in CNM relationships and potentially seek out couples therapy, therapists will be tasked with assisting individuals navigating relationship distress occurring within these unique relationship structures. There is limited research, or empirically validated, treatment models for working with couples with intersecting identities. To date, there has yet to be an …

Domestic Exertions: Soldier-Servants, Military Elites, And Securitized Labor In India, Taveeshi Singh

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation explores the politics of gender, labor, national security, and social class in India through an examination of a coercive domestic labor regime in the Indian Army. Previous scholarship has focused on the neoliberal state-sponsored global care chains and immigrant women workers from formerly colonized nations, many in Asia, catering to wealthy ‘civilian’ households in the global North. However, little is known about the roles, relationalities, and infrastructures of servitude, inhabited primarily by racialized men, that endure within the domestic life of postcolonial state institutions long after the retreat of European colonial regimes. I present an intervention by providing …

Analysis Of Networks Using Hypergraph Centrality Measures And Other Properties, Sathyanarayanan G

Theses and Dissertations

Network analysis explores the connections between nodes and evaluates their characteristics across diverse fields such as biological, chemical, social networks and so on. Identifying key nodes within a network is crucial for grasping how information spreads, which has significant applications across multiple fields. This includes studying disease transmission, managing rumours, understanding social leadership, enhancing viral marketing strategies, and monitoring public opinion. Influential nodes play a pivotal role in effectively distributing information throughout the network. The centrality measures are paramount in network analysis that uses various metrics to evaluate the importance of the node. The centrality predicts the characteristics and significance …

Rage Against The Archive: Institutional Critique Through New Media Art, Anshul Roy

Theses - ALL

In this paper, I discuss my encounter with the colonial lens of photography in the New York Public Library’s digital archives, which culminated in my thesis project Rage Against the Archive, comprising of video, performance and new media art that critically engages with the question of visual ethics and how institutional archives should display and disseminate certain historical images online. Each chapter in this paper details a significant paradigm shift I encountered during my MFA that transformed my creative practice into a research-based conceptual approach. I draw on scholarship related to photography in colonial India, archives, institutional critique, electronic civil …

The Shaping Of Masculinity In Jamaica: A Historical Perspective, Jovanne Josephine O'Connor

Theses - ALL

ABSTRACT Jamaica, strategically located in the Western Caribbean, has historically been a coveted prize for European colonial powers due to its geopolitical positioning and reliance on tourism and agriculture (The World Factbook 2023, pg. 23). This research delves into the complex dynamics of masculinity in Jamaica, exploring how historical, cultural, and socioeconomic factors intersect to shape gender identities and behaviors. The colonial history of Jamaica, transitioning from Spanish to English rule, has left indelible marks on its culture, including language and social hierarchies. The evolution of Jamaican Patois reflects a history of linguistic and cultural exchange, serving as a marker …

Evolution On High: A Comparison Of The Physiology And Narrative Representation Of Two Native High Altitude Populations, Taylor Shay Harman

Dissertations - ALL

Abstract This dissertation is an interdisciplinary study of human adaptation to high altitude. High altitude environments are known for being very difficult places for humans to live, for several reasons, but especially because they are characterized by low ambient oxygen tension, i.e., hypoxia. In spite of these challenges, there are several human populations that have lived at high altitude for tens of thousands of years. The two best-characterized highland populations, Andeans and Tibetans, have both been shown to perform better at high altitude than their lowland counterparts. This is thought to be due to a series of adaptations that have …

The Exhibit And Beyond: Attendees, Collaborating Organizations, And Decision Makers Responding To A Photovoice Project, Cara Dienno, Corey Martz, Lauren Collins, Mimiko Watanabe

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Photovoice aims to impact those who view photographs and stories in culminating exhibits. This multi-phase research project, completed in partnership with city government and community partners, explored photovoice impacts on exhibit attendees, collaborating organizations, and decision-makers. Results show increased levels of awareness, concern, and willingness to take action among exhibit attendees. Additionally, collaborating organizations and decision-makers saw the power of “thicker” public engagement processes, like photovoice, to provide useful data to aid decision-making.

Social Theories And Service Learning: Towards Building An Integrated Service-Learning Sociological Framework, Mark Anthony D. Abenir, Carol Ma Hok Ka

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This theoretical paper anchors service learning (S-L) in three broad sociological theories. From there, discussions on the actual implementation of S-L based on these theories are explained to build an integrated S-L sociological framework. Four S-L modalities of community engagement are identified—namely transactional, transitional, transformational, and transcendental—with their corresponding respective levels of community participation—namely consultative tokenism, placation, partnerships, and citizen control. The application of such a coherent framework is discussed in the context of contemporary service-learning practices and community impact.

Subversive Service Learning: Shifting The Locus Of The Problem, Neriko Musha Doerr

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This article introduces subversive service learning, a new type of critical service learning that shifts the locus of the “problem” from the marginalized group to the mainstream society, subverting both mainstream perspectives and the deficit model of a community being “helped.” Inspired by Whiteness studies, it pursues social change through service learning. This article illustrates how this subversive service learning works in three cases from the author’s college 200-level class in Fall 2016.

Institutionalizing Community Engagement: A Quantitative Approach To Identifying Patterns Of Engagement Based On Institutional Characteristics, Natasha Hutson, Travis York, Daesang Kim, Jamie L. Workman

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Community engagement is recognized as a high-impact practice in higher education. However, while best practices in engagement have been broadly accepted, standard metrics for engagement across institutions have not yet been established. The purpose of this research study was to explore the relationship between community engagement and a variety of institutional characteristics among higher education institutions in a Southeastern state. Findings indicated that a pattern of engagement existed among the 48 participating institutions.

The Family Story Project: Narrative, Ethics, And Community Collaboration Between Ronald Mcdonald House Of Durham Families And Pre-Health Undergraduates, Denise K. Comer

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

The Family Story Project (FSP) brought together families at the Ronald McDonald House of Durham (RMHD) and pre-health undergraduates to co-construct narratives and visual portraits about family experiences. FSP shows that narratives can be rewarding for families and offer formative, skill-building experiences for pre-health undergraduates. FSP also demonstrates the ethical complexities surrounding community-university partnerships in health contexts, particularly with vulnerable populations such as children.

Translating Encounters: Connecting Indigenous Young People With Higher Education Through A Transmedia Project, Kristine Alexander, Hudson Eagle Bear, Tesla Heavy Runner, Ashley Henrickson, Taylor Little

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This piece draws on multiple voices to reflect on a collaborative project between universitybased researchers and a local community organization devoted to Indigenous Blackfoot children and their families. The evolution of the project from one based on photoelicitation to one devoted to building a digital storytelling library meant a methodological shift to acknowledge the role of translation in encounters between university researchers and community practitioners, between Elders and youth, and between settlers and Indigenous people. Our experience provides lessons on the importance of taking seriously the moments when difference is encountered and translated during the research and community-building process.

A Decade Of Publishing: On Reflection And Our Future, Catherine Stemmans Paterson

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This article reflects on the tenth anniversary of publishing The Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education. It also describes an upcoming special edition in partnership with Indiana Campus Compact.

Principal Agency 50 Years After The Lau Decision: Building And Sustaining Bilingual Education Programs For Asian Languages, Kevin M. Wong, Zhongfeng Tian

Education Division Scholarship

This study examined how three champion principals of Asian language dual language bilingual education (DLBE) programs—Cantonese, Korean, and Mandarin—in California have navigated the oscillating language-in-education policies after the Lau decision. We explored principals' various roles through a lens of agency in a social justice leadership framework, specifically considering the opportunities and challenges for agentive leadership from three different phases: foregrounding and engaging, planning and implementing, and evaluating and sustaining. Findings demonstrate that the success of DLBE programs goes beyond the overarching language policies that supposedly enable bilingual education; rather it hinges on the bottom-up commitment, collaboration and resilience of principals, …

The Politics Of Heritage And Indigeneity In Assam: Hindutva’S Regional Expression, Tahmina Rahman

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Stroke Rehabilitation In Urban And Rural Settings In The Philippines: Protocol For An Interview And Visual Elicitation Study, Sarah Ann Buckingham, Alyssa Marie Dar Juan, Sara Demain, June Ann De Vera, Myrna Estrada, Lorraine Hermosura-Faeldon, Bridie Kent, Maria Teresa Sharon Linog, Roy Francis Navea, Fiona Jones

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Introduction There is a lack of community-based rehabilitation for stroke in the Philippines, and research on this topic is limited. Different challenges may be encountered in urban and rural settings. The aim of the Tulong, Ugnayan ng Lingap At gabaY (TULAY) project is to develop a context-appropriate, community-based stroke support programme, consisting of self-management and training resources to augment the rehabilitation and recovery process. An important stage in the development of this programme is to qualitatively explore the experiences and needs of all stakeholders. Materials and methods Using co-designed and evidence-based topic guides, in-depth semi-structured interviews will be conducted with …

Social Experiences, Life Satisfaction, And Social Support Of Immigrant Families With Young Children In A Highly Urban City, Zeynep Isik-Ercan, Huan-Tang Lu, Nicole Edwards, Madji Fall, Latifa Sebti

College of Education Departmental Research

Grounding this study in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological framework, the authors used a survey that includes psychometrically sound measures, to investigate the social experiences of 54 immigrant families with young children and the factors that shape their perceptions of life satisfaction and social support in a highly urban city. Results show persistent challenges related to discrimination and access to resources. Despite these challenges, participants’ overall satisfaction with life was rated high and positively correlated with their comfort with practicing their culture and with their perceived social support. Implications involve the need to design evidence-based policies and programmes that promote immigrant families’ wellbeing.

Enhancing The Efficacy Of Task-Based Grammar Teaching: A Study Through Error Analysis Of Esl Learners At The Tertiary Level, Dhivya P

Theses and Dissertations

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of modern methods of teaching grammar and to test the student's learning through activities and games. The objective is to identify the students' grammatical errors regarding prepositions, articles, concord, tenses, and redundancy by practical methods and task-based activities. The study employed Corder’s Error Analysis method to understand the students' language learning process, indicate errors, and identify opportunities to develop learners' language awareness.

A pilot study was conducted involving both pre test and posttest for the students. The primary research involved pre test, posttest and retention tests for the students to evaluate the error …

National Blue Ribbon School Principals’ Descriptions Of Their Leadership Practices, Demere Houston

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Approximately 7% of all U. S. K-12 schools have received the United States Department of Education’s (USDOE) National Blue Ribbon (NBR). Information was needed about how leaders prepare their schools to earn this award. This study was focused on the leadership practices of school principals honored with the award between 2005 and 2021 to learn more about this gap in leadership practice. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore how NBR-award principals describe the leadership practices that enabled them to build school environments worthy of the highest designation a school can receive from the USDOE. The conceptual …

Unraveling Factors Influencing Local Willingness To Participate In Sustainable Komodo Conservation And Protected Area Tourism, Imelda Masni Juniaty Sianipar, Chun-Hung Lee, Hurng-Jyuhn Wang, Doo-Chul Kim, I Wayan Koko Suryawan

Forest and Society

Komodo National Park is at the forefront of balancing environmental conservation with the challenges and opportunities of sustainable tourism. This research delves into the attitudes and engagement levels of the local communities within Komodo's distinctive ecological context, aiming to unravel the factors that drive or hinder their involvement in sustainable tourism and conservation activities. Through Exploratory Factor Analysis, we distilled key influences on community engagement, followed by a K-Mean Cluster Analysis to segment the community by their involvement levels. Logistic Regression was then employed to explore the likelihood of continued participation in these initiatives. The analysis identified three primary factors …

Unleashing Hegemonic Horizons In Kavita Kane’S Cultural Literary Landscape, Durga R

Theses and Dissertations

Mythology cannot be defined as a set of stories but these stories culturally bind, and make people understand their tradition. It also serves as a conduit of worldview and makes people realise their position in the cosmos. Mythopoeia is the art of myth-making that either a new myth is created or some alterations are made in the point of view or identity of the characters after adapting the framework from the original. The present research aims to explore the presence of cultural hegemony in the select works of the Indian mythopoeic writer Kavita Kane.

Kavita Kane (1966) is a former …

‘‘Domicilelessness’’ And Livelihoods In Urban Areas: Case Of Maasai In Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Ombeni Swai

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The study aimed at demonstrating Maasai migration into Dar es Salaam urban areas and their challenges in accessing accommodation. Methodologically, the study deployed secondary data analysis following a descriptive research design. Furthermore, this study was conducted through both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The study was conducted from 2018 to 2022 of which a random sample of 100 (N=100) was targeted. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 16). Findings: The Maasai means of accommodation are divided into four main categories: completed houses (6%), under-construction sites (39%), halfway constructed and abandoned structures (31%), and …

Socioeconomic Status, Physical Inactivity, And Bmi In Transitional Urban China: Contextualizing The Theory Of Fundamental Causes, Jun Xu, Fang Gong, Wei Zhao

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Drawing insights from the theory of fundamental causes of disease, this study examined the relationships between socioeconomic status (SES) and selected risk factors in transitional urban China. Specifically, under China’s distinct institutional and sociocultural environment, we examined how contextualized SES (i.e., party membership, hukou status, housing ownership, and subjective social status) and conventional SES indicators (i.e., education, income, and occupation) were associated with physical inactivity and body mass index (BMI). Utilizing the urban subsample of the 2017 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS), we found that individuals with higher education, income, Communist Party membership, and urban hukou status had lower risks …

The Balancing Act Of Justice: Juggling Affects In The Pursuit Of Fairness, Andrea Allen

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

In my dissertation, I aim to examine the different identifications and affects that occur in the pursuit of justice as explored in early modern texts. I explore the relationship, and differences, between pity, compassion, and mercy in various early modern texts such as Chapman, Marston, and Jonson’s Eastward Hoe; Shakespeare’s King Lear and Measure for Measure; Spenser’s Faerie Queene; and Middleton’s The Old Law. I look at the role that the imagination plays in allowing people to identify with the pain and perspectives of others, especially as it enhances or limits one's ability to sympathize with victims and offenders. More …

Volume 56-2 Complete Issue, Steven M. Schnell

The Geographical Bulletin

Volume 56-2 Complete Issue

Growing Local Food Movements: Farmers’ Markets As Nodes For Products And Community, Martin Aucoin, Matthew Fry

The Geographical Bulletin

Throughout the United States, there is a fast growing movement centered on locally produced food . Consumers, farmers, and farmers’ markets are central components of this local food movement . In this study, we examine the local food movement in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex (DFW) and use farmers’ markets to understand DFW’s developing local food system and foodsheds . We also analyze how notions of place and community are manifest in DFW’s local food system . Research methods include interviews with farmers, customers, and farmers’ market coordinators and an analysis of the spatial distribution of three farmers’ market networks in …

Feminist Iterations Of “The Implosion”: New Techniques For Teaching About Science, Technology, And Society Through The “Implosion Project”, Maya Cruz

Feminist Pedagogy

This article outlines a new and explicitly feminist iteration of Professor Joseph Dumit’s (2014) “Implosion Project.” The “Implosion Project” is a classic pedagogical technique used widely in the field of Science and Technology Studies as an innovative way to teach students to critically engage with the complex relationships of science, technology, and society, and provides an important opportunity to center an explicitly feminist pedagogical approach when teaching students about the systems of power that shape, and are shaped by, the complex relationships between science, technology, and society. Since the “Implosion Project” does not center an explicitly feminist pedagogical approach, this …

A Matter Of Life And Death: The Conceptualization And Theological Significance Of Blood In The Pentateuch, Jared Greer

Master's Theses

This 2024 Master of Theological Studies thesis at Lipscomb University analyzes the conceptualization and theological significance of blood within the Pentateuch. While the thesis does attend to various anthropological concerns (i.e., the sociocultural understandings of blood that inform the text), it is more chiefly concerned with how such understandings of blood contribute to the broader theology of the Pentateuch. Using a canonical interpretive approach that respects both the diachronic nature of the text and the theological unity intended by its final redactors, the thesis primarily explores the two principal contexts in which blood appears in the Pentateuch: Israel’s cultus and …

Ucf Libraries Programming Report, 2023-2024, Kasey Bennett, Ucf Libraries

Libraries' Documents

No abstract provided.