Digital Commons Network^™

An Inquiry Into The Accessibility Of Campus Recreation For College Students With Disabilities, Kayla B. Abrahamson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

University recreation centers are identified as the main sources of physical activity for college students. However, an estimated 68% of college students with disabilities (SWD) use their campus recreational facilities less than five times per year (Yoh et al., 2008). Structural and programmatic accessibility barriers may account for low facility use and corresponding low physical activity levels among college SWD. An accessibility assessment of facilities and programming is warranted to identify priority areas for barrier removal. This collective case study evaluates the accessibility of three campus recreation facilities at 4-year public universities in the southeast U.S. Adopting a mixed-method approach, …

Diminished Aspirations Or Something More? A Phenomenological Study To Examine How Educational Leadership Experiences Influence Career Aspirations, Chevy A. Benson

Dissertations

This qualitative study utilized a phenomenological approach to examine the lived experiences female educational leaders’ face, which may influence their career aspirations. Phenomenology allowed the researcher to explore the commonalities across female educational leaders’ experiences. Female educational leaders from two school districts were invited to participate in the study, provided they had a minimum of one year of experience as school administrators. Participants were purposefully selected. The researcher utilized an electronic invitation inviting female educational leaders to participate in the study. The researcher then scheduled individual, semi-structured interviews with the participants to obtain data pertaining to the participants’ experiences. The …

Developmental Pathways From Player To Coach For Volunteers In An American Football Organization In Germany, Gary Cramer

Dissertations

The leadership style of organizational leaders is a key factor affecting volunteer coach recruitment and retention; yet the examination of developmental pathways from player to coach is lacking in the literature, especially as viewed from the perspective of those who are followers. The study addressed the following research question: How do volunteer coaches in an American football organization in Germany, who once played for the same head coach in the organization they currently coach, describe their pathway of development from player to coach? The purpose of this phenomenological case study was to inductively investigate the developmental pathways of volunteer sport …

Improving Empathy With Simulation: A Quality Improvement Project, Jami Layne

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

This study examines the effectiveness of simulation-based training in enhancing empathy levels among undergraduate nursing students. A lack of empathy can negatively impact the healthcare outcomes of patients (Levett-Jones et al., 2019). Improving the empathy levels of nursing students can improve patient outcomes and impact student learning outcomes such as the student’s ability to think critically and improve communication and social skills (Chua et al., 2021; Ferri et al., 2017; Hakansson Eklund et al., 2019; Koukourikos et al., 2021). The purpose of the quality improvement project was to improve empathy levels in undergraduate associate degree nursing students and increase the …

Impact Of Organizational Culture And Leadership In Professional Environments, Eli Wolman

Capstone Showcase

This paper addresses the importance of a strong organizational culture and effective leadership in a professional working environment. Leadership has been shown to profoundly impact a professional working environment's performance, productivity, mental well-being, and goal attainment. Organizational Culture is the set of values and norms a group shares. As influential organizational culture proves to be effective, leadership may come in the form of several styles, including transformational leadership, directive leadership, or empowering leadership, which also play a pivotal role in the success of a group. Ultimately, even though this paper primarily prioritizes the implications of leadership and culture on professional …

Medication For Opioid Use Disorder In A Community Mental Health Clinic, Hannah Magness

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Over 100,000 people died from opioid-related overdoses in the United States in 2023. People experiencing homelessness (PEH) are at especially high risk of co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder, and face added barriers to accessing medical and psychiatric care. Buprenorphine is a life-saving medication used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD).

Objective: This project assessed the feasibility of altering prescribing practices at a community mental health clinic in King County, Washington to incorporate medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) into standard clinic procedures.

Methods: This project was a mixed-methods, formative evaluation that assessed the need for and barriers …

The Violence Of Numbers: A Critical Appraisal Of The Justice Capabilities Framework, Abhineet Maurya

Socio-Legal Review

Systems of indicators and international rankings have today become a new mode of evaluating social, political, and economic life. In the context of measuring the rule of law and justice delivery systems at a local as well as a global level, such indicators enable empirically grounded solutions to justice reform issues. However, scholars like Siddharth Peter de Souza argue that the existing discourse concerning the rule of law and access to justice indicators promote a specific vision of a well functioning justice system grounded in western normative considerations. de Souza, in his book Designing Indicators for a Plural Legal World …

Tennessee Rail Transit State Safety Oversight Program, Annual Report May 2023 – December 2024, Tennessee. Department Of Transportation.

Rail Transit State Safety Report

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of High School Scheduling Models On Student Achievement In Mississippi, Dustin Ryan Payne

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the effects of different high school scheduling practices on student achievement in Mississippi, considering school economic status as a covariate. Using a robust factorial ANOVA design, the research analyzes reading proficiency, math proficiency, and Mississippi Statewide Accountability System school performance scores across 149 public high schools, excluding those with grades other than 9 through 12, private schools, and charter schools. The primary goal was to determine whether schedule type significantly influences academic performance, independent of economic status. Results indicate that while economic status consistently affects student and school performance, schedule type alone does not show a statistically …

Development Of Leader Voice And Leader Silence Scales: How And Why Leaders Choose To Remain Silent Or Speak Up During Situations Of Workplace Aggression, Katherine L. Dickins

Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to investigate the factors that drive leaders to speak up or remain silent when witnessing workplace aggression and to develop scales to measure leader voice and leader silence. While research on employee voice and silence exists, leader voice and silence need more theoretical development. I used an exploratory sequential mixed-method design to address these gaps. Subjects: Study one included 26 graduate management students and 35 leaders across multiple industries in the United States who witnessed workplace aggression in their unit. Study 2 included 345 people who supervised others at work. Instruments: Seven open-ended questions asking respondents to …

Examining The Experiences Of Dei Practitioners: A Look At The Racial Disparity In Policing Of Black People And The Subsequent Need For Adaptive Leadership, Lashawn Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

For centuries, Black people in the U.S. have had to navigate structural and institutional racism. This is especially true for the system of policing, which evolved from pre-emancipation slave patrols. Though law enforcement agencies have made strides in the past 160 years, Black people continue to be targeted and killed by police at a disproportionate rate. Evidence shows that DEI training initiatives within policing often fail to reduce this racial disparity that exists in policing. Yet, improved training outcomes surrounding racial relations continues to be a priority. The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to examine the experiences of …

Toxin Handling In Human Resources (Hr) And Its Impact On Burnout, Cecilia J. Lee

Theses and Dissertations

These are challenging times for HR professionals. The world of work has experienced unprecedented levels of change since the pandemic. Now on the horizon is the transformative influence of generative AI on the future of work and HR sits at the center of these changes in organizations. Business executives need healthy and productive HR professionals to effectively support organizations in the future. Unfortunately, recent industry studies paint a sobering picture of waning well-being and high levels of burnout in HR. Burnout is characterized by exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficacy, experienced by individuals and caused by systemic organizational imbalances. This study was …

A Phenomenological Study On Tokenism And Leadership Style Of Black Executives In Corporate Organizations, Alan Keith Caldwell

Theses and Dissertations

The demographic composition of the United States is changing. In relation to race, the minority is becoming the majority. This demographic shift creates a more diverse workforce, which increases executive-level opportunities for Black professionals at corporate organizations. However, data indicates that very few Black people are in corporate organizations’ executive-level (VP, SVP, and C-Suite) roles. This study investigated tokenism’s role in developing Black executives’ leadership styles at global corporate organizations. The aim of this investigation focused on uncovering the experiences of Black executives in a corporate environment, including their leadership style. Phenomenological Inquiry served as the method to collect data. …

Breathing: A Story Of Lifelong Learners’ Relationship To The Changing World, Cristina D. González

Theses and Dissertations

Holistic learning is recognized as an effective learning practice. It acknowledges the interconnections between the individual, other people, and the environment, it describes learning as an active process that transforms consciousness. This transformation in consciousness occurs through the facilitation of learning, experiences, and reflection, which lead to acts that nurture oneself, others, and the environment. Teachers face the challenge of noneducators setting unrealistic expectations, providing limited resources, and generating a culture of competition, preventing holistic learning from developing. If students are to learn, this process needs to be honored, which requires pedagogical strategies and practices that can be replicated to …

Organization Change Processes In U.S. Protestant Churches: A Comparative Case Study Analysis, Leslie Mulder

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores organization change processes in three U.S. Protestant churches through a comparative case study analysis, emphasizing the role of Religious Institutional Entrepreneurs (RIEs). The research identifies key factors and conditions contributing to change, focusing on how shifts in collective narratives, generative metaphors, and strategic conversations are associated with transformation. External shocks, strategic partnerships, and adaptive leadership emerged as crucial elements in fostering change. Challenges such as emotional impacts of conflict, structural alignment and urgency-based decisions were also noted. The study highlights the balance between innovation and tradition, the importance of inclusive and reflective community engagement, and the optimization …

Designing And Evaluating A Framework For Assessing And Addressing Identity Threat And Integration As Part Of A Merger And Acquisition, Melanie Figler

Theses and Dissertations

Mergers and acquisitions (M&As) offer both advantages and challenges to firms that pursue this growth strategy. Although various frameworks and approaches have been designed to reduce the risks of these transactions, high failure rates continue to plague M&A events. This study investigated a lesser-examined but powerful factor in change outcomes: organization identity. This study examined the effects of M&As on organization identity and identified practices for assessing and addressing identity threat and integration as part of an M&A. The research design was a single case study, with 11 employees ranging from individual contributors to executives being recruited from an organization …

Understanding Startup Dynamics: A Qualitative Exploration Of Founder Leadership Impact On Organizational Culture, Nikita Mathur

Theses and Dissertations

The business landscape presents challenges and opportunities for startups, influenced by the leadership of their founders. This study investigated how a founder’s leadership qualities, values, and vision influence the organizational culture. This study explores the dynamic interplay between leadership behaviors and cultural outcomes, offering new insights into the organization development process within startup contexts. The analysis that transformative leadership qualities, such as empowerment, transparent communication, and strategic decision-making, along with a clear and compelling vision, are essential for fostering a culture that supports innovation and adaptability. This thesis contributes to the broader field of organization development by bridging theoretical frameworks …

Faculty Exodus From Africa: Exploring The Experiences Of African Academic Diasporic Faculty In The United States Of America, André Crenshaw

Theses and Dissertations

African higher education institutions are experiencing a faculty shortage influenced by globalization, internationalization, and brain drain. Prior literature on immigrant African and diaspora faculty exodus from Africa focuses on the brain drain in African higher education. Still, there is a need for further exploration of faculty teaching experiences virtually from the U.S. to Africa using educational technology with multiple academic appointments. This study aimed to assist stakeholders in gaining insight into how African Diasporic faculty adopt educational technology for virtual teaching, faculty development, cross-culture university-to-university collaborations, and exchanges. This research explored the experiences of higher education faculty, Black African academic …

The 3 C'S Of Leadership, Jennifer Gayle Rogers

Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to investigate and identify the strategies and best practices employed by elementary school leaders through the teacher's lens to ensure their success. Additionally, the research sought to view school leadership behaviors and practices through the teacher's lens. This approach created collaboration and communication between the school leader and their teachers. Moreover, this qualitative phenomenological study focused on independent school teachers with at least 10 years of teaching experience. The researcher collected data by interviewing 15 teachers from independent schools across Los Angeles County to answer four main research questions through corresponding interview questions. The findings connected to …

Exploratory Study Of Leading U.S. Companies’ Post-Covid 19 Manager Engagement Practices, Christina Watt

Theses and Dissertations

Managers are crucial to employee satisfaction, serving as the bridge between leadership and staff, balancing expectations from both sides. Although managers are important for employee engagement, recent research highlights a significant issue in organizations regarding the low engagement levels of managers themselves. The purpose of this study was to examine the practices leading companies are using to engage managers and support their performance post-COVID-19. Informants from six Fortune 100 and three Fortune 500 companies were recruited using purposive sampling and interviewed for this study. The participant was required to have worked regularly on their company’s enterprise-wide manager engagement programs within …

Conducting Change: The Effect Of A Music Director’S Leadership Factors On Players’ Performance Within The Symphony Orchestra, Mehran Tebyani

Theses and Dissertations

This study delved into the dynamic relationship between an orchestra and its conductor, exploring how this partnership transcends mere interpretation of musical scores to craft immersive auditory experiences that resonate with the audience and authentically convey the composer's emotional narrative. Influential conductors harmonize diverse talents, channeling collective energy through a shared and communicated vision. They can orchestrate teams of passionate and skilled musicians toward success or dismantle the team's synergy through ineffective leadership, misaligned role assignments, and poor coordination. The contemporary role of the conductor in a symphony orchestra is evolving. Gone are the days of the autocratic, sometimes dictatorial …

Heat Shields And Friendship Bracelets: Features That Enable Effective Employee Resource Groups, Kevin Sakamoto

Theses and Dissertations

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are a potentially powerful means of addressing inequalities and improving working conditions for underrepresented groups in organizations. However, little attention has been given to the motivation of employees who voluntarily donate their time in support of their ERG. The fact that membership in ERGs often coincides with a social identity group (e.g., Asian American) adds a dimension not associated with other non-formal groups (e.g., softball team) within an organization, and may increase the potential for ERGs to achieve valued outcomes. Drawing from academic literature on Social Identity Theory (SIT), employee voice, and activism, this qualitative study …

The Road To Recovery: An Applied Research Study On Promoting Effective Mathematics Instruction By Increasing Teachers’ Knowledge Of And Supporting The Implementation Of Effective Mathematics Teaching Practices To Address Pandemic Learning Loss, Kimberly D. Price

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this applied research study with a program evaluation was to answer fundamental questions about the effectiveness of an extended professional development program. The program sought to promote quality mathematics instruction by increasing teachers’ knowledge of and supporting the implementation of effective mathematics teaching practices in classroom instruction to address pandemic learning loss. To support the efforts of the Mississippi Department of Education to address pandemic learning loss and increase the capacity of the state’s educator workforce, the professional development team in the Office of Professional Development created an action plan. A program evaluation was used to measure …

Perceptions Of First-Year Bipoc Students About The Impact Of Institutional Recruitment Practices On Their Decision To Enroll In The University Of Mississippi’S Integrated Marketing Communications, Jennifer A. Simmons

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The University of Mississippi has a history and continued stigma of not being a welcoming place for people of color. While the university has made strides to distance itself from its past, negative stereotypes and perceptions still exist among some students and parents. These stereotypes and perceptions can make recruiting students more difficult. This study explores the perceptions of first-year students who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) about the impact of institutional recruitment practices on their decision to enroll in the University of Mississippi’s Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) program. This study will help provide perspectives from …

Voice, Prevention, Remedy: Key Elements In A Global Supply Chain Convention, James J. Brudney

Faculty Scholarship

In a global supply chain (GSC) setting, workers’ voice may be understood as the extent to which employees and others toiling in the supply chain are able to participate—individually and/or collectively—in decisions affecting their labor conditions and rights. Policy instruments may strengthen this voice insofar as they provide mechanisms enabling workers to identify and actualize their labor rights within the GSC. This Article initially situates the role of workers’ voice in GSCs by reference to the writings of political economist Albert O. Hirschman. In his classic book, Exit Voice, and Loyalty, and related articles, Hirschman focused on mechanisms for addressing …

Nonfatal Strangulation And Intimate Partner Violence Decision Tree Protocol, Joy Martin

Yale School of Nursing Digital Theses

AbstractNonfatal Strangulation and Intimate Partner Violence Decision Tree Protocol Problem and Context Nonfatal strangulation (NFS) is the ultimate form of power and control in intimate partner violence (IPV). Native American women are at an increased risk of intimate partner violence. Symptoms of strangulation are frequently missed by first responders. Victims often decline medical examination. Victims of nonfatal strangulation can have significant long term complications and increased morbidity throughout their lives. Intervention or Innovation This project provided educational training sessions to first responders within a Native American community in the Southwestern United States to increase knowledge and comfort when responding to …

Are We Talking About The Same Thing? The Case For Stronger Connections Between Graduate And Worker Employability Research, Jos Akkermans, William E. Donald, Denise Jackson, Anneleen Forrier

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose and approach: This article presents the case for creating stronger connections between research on graduate and worker employability. We offer a narrative review of commonalities and differences between these research streams and offer thoughts and suggestions for further integration and mutual learning. Findings: We outline some of the main theories and concepts in the graduate and worker employability domains. Furthermore, we analyze how these show considerable overlap, though they have barely connected with each other yet. We also formulate an agenda for future research that would spur stronger connections between the fields. Finally, we turn to our fellow authors, …

Work Characteristics, Workplace Support, And Mental Ill-Health In A Canadian Cohort Of Healthcare Workers During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Nicola Cherry, Anil Adisesh, Igor Burstyn, Quentin Durand-Moreau, Jean-Michel Galarneau, France Labrèche, Shannon Ruzycki, Tanis Zadunayski

Études primaires

Objective The aim of the study was to identify determinants of mental health in healthcare workers (HCW) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A cohort of Canadian HCW completed four questionnaires giving details of work with patients, ratings of workplace supports, a mental health questionnaire, and substance use. Principal components were extracted from 23 rating scales. Risk factors were examined by Poisson regression. Results A total of 4854 (97.8%) of 4964 participants completed ratings and mental health questionnaires. Healthcare workers working with patients with COVID-19 had high anxiety and depression scores. One of three extracted components, 'poor support,' was related to …

Labor Practices And Their Impact On Employee Perception At Amazon Usa., Yelitza Manzano Jimenez

Business ETD Collections

This study examines Amazon employees' perceptions in the United States and their impact on engagement and organisational culture. Since its founding in 1994, Amazon has grown from an online book retailer to a global platform and one of the "Big Four" internet companies. Positive employee perceptions foster engagement through a supportive work environment, but challenges such as timely and transparent feedback persist. Recommendations include adopting an open-door policy aligned with the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) Model to enhance feedback processes and improve engagement, contributing to Amazon’s sustained success.

Harnessing The Power Of Complementarity Between Smart Tracking Technology And Associated Health Information Technologies: Longitudinal Study, Youyou Tao, Ruilin Zhu, Dezhi Wu

Publications

Background: Smart tracking technology (STT) that was applied for clinical use has the potential to reduce 30-day all-cause readmission risk through streamlining clinical workflows with improved accuracy, mobility, and efficiency. However, previously published literature has inadequately addressed the joint effects of STT for clinical use and its complementary health ITs (HITs) in this context. Furthermore, while previous studies have discussed the symbiotic and pooled complementarity effects among different HITs, there is a lack of evidence-based research specifically examining the complementarity effects between STT for clinical use and other relevant HITs. Objective: Through a complementarity theory lens, this study aims to …