Digital Commons Network^™

The Perceived Effects Of Black Students' Involvement With Microcommunities On Academic Success At Predominantly White Institutions, Darryl D. Wright-Greene

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study explored the perceived influence that micro-communities and support networks have on the academic success of Black students at Predominantly White Institutions across the United States. This study explored how the roles of micro-communities or strong support networks influence the academic success of Black students at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). Through the Social Capital Theory lens, the researcher assessed the lived experiences of current or former Black students to understand how involvement with support networks impacted their academic achievement or success, which included factors contributing to network structure, resources, support and the relationship …

Communism And Socialism: Their Influences On Wisconsin's Political, Economic, And Cultural Foundations, With A Special Focus On Milwaukee, 1890-1950, Jean Marie Froelich

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In the United States of America, both Socialism and Communism were present without the volatility of what occurred in the Soviet Union, China, and other nations. Wisconsin and many other states had a powerful Communist and Socialist framework. Wisconsin also had other parties like the Progressives, Populists, and Greenbacks, though not as significant as the main ones. Many Wisconsin leaders were willing participants in exercising these ideologies on their constituents. Immigrants played a crucial role in shaping the political system based on what they had learned in their native countries and social, cultural, and economic inputs. Milwaukee was a vital …

How To Communicate Your Estate Plan To Family When Dividing Assets Unequally, Anastasia Meyer

Cornhusker Economics

Provides a guide on how to effectively approach estate planning conversations with family members.

Effectively communicating an estate plan with unequal division of assets can be challenging, but approaching it with honesty, clarity, and empathy can help prevent misunderstandings and family disputes. Open, respectful dialogue—paired with thoughtful explanations and transparent documentation—ensures that your family understands your intentions and feels valued, even when tough decisions are involved.

Ultimately, your goal isn’t just to pass down financial assets, but also to preserve family harmony and, where applicable, secure the future of a viable business. By fostering open communication, you can create a …

The Eco-Agency Problem And Sustainable Investment, Moran Ofir, Tal Elmakiess

BYU Law Review

In times of heightened environmental consciousness and a global call for urgent action, corporations are playing a critical role in addressing pressing environmental challenges. As concerns about climate change, resource depletion, and ecosystem degradation intensify, businesses are under mounting pressure to align their strategies with sustainable practices. Despite that, there is strong evidence of underinvestment in sustainability and environmental efforts by corporations. In this Article, we first define the eco-agency problem—the special conflict of interest between the corporate officers who focus on short-term profitability and the other stakeholders who seek long-term profitability and sustainability—and then discuss existing coping measures, such …

The Qualitative Study Of The African American Pastors' Perceptions Of Marriage And Family Therapists, De Angela Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study investigates African American pastors' perceptions regarding mental health practitioners' roles. The research aims to comprehend the perspectives and experiences of ten participants, allowing them to select the location for data collection. This study investigates the relationship between interpretive phenomenon analysis and the perceptions of African American pastors using the hermeneutic phenomenology framework established by influential thinkers such as Husserl, Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, and Sartre (Smith et al., 2022). As a philosophical discipline, phenomenology emphasizes the importance of an individual's lived experiences and worldview. Husserl, Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, and Sartre have contributed to this discipline by emphasizing the inseparable relationship …

Character Challenges American Christian Business Leaders Face In The Secular Digital Age, Kevin J. Kennedy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In the digital age, Christian business leaders are a minority who are commonly expected to change their leadership priorities to fit within the secularized culture. These expectations for change in their leadership principles can generate character challenges to the very core of a Christian business leader’s beliefs forcing them to make decisions which pit the practice of their proclaimed faith against a secularized business practice. In these workplace challenges, the Christian business leader’s faith, freedom of conscience, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion compete with secularized practices accepted in today’s American culture. This research documents the insufficient understanding of …

Absent Fathers And The Propensity Of Criminal Behaviors Among Children Later In Life, India Kewanna Holmes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of the qualitative phenomenological research was to investigate the experiences of young adults raised by one caregiver and how the lack of fathers in the household impacted their decision-making processes concerning engaging in criminal behaviors. The following inquiry guided the research: What are the effects of fatherlessness on decision-making in young adults, and how is it related to criminal behavior? Semi-structured interviews of 15 participants, aged 18 to 26, were used as the primary data collection method. The interview instrument consisted of ten items, and responses were analyzed using coding and thematic analysis. The study's findings revealed several …

Good Samaritans: Applications Of Social Christianity By Southern Baptists During The Early Twentieth Century, Alyson Marie Fagan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In the early twentieth century, the Social Gospel movement sought to spur Christians to serve their neighbors through social and political reform, often through ecumenical groups. However, Southern Baptists remained distant from this movement because they were weary of the liberal Christianity expressed by Social Gospel leaders that appeared to replace the power of the Gospel with acts of service. Instead, the Southern Baptist Convention formally addressed social reforms and civic engagement by creating the Social Service Commission and Committee on Civic Righteousness. These groups expressed the need to reform the home and advocated civic engagement while remaining true to …

Because He Lives: Exploring The Resurrection Of Jesus As The Root Belief In Theologically Conservative Christians' Resistance To Climate Policy, Roger E. Prather

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this dissertation is to contribute to the ongoing and constantly evolving investigation into Christian attitudes about environmental issues generally and skepticism about climate change and climate policy specifically. This purpose is achieved primarily in two ways. First, it seeks to distinguish and disambiguate between skepticism about climate change among theologically conservative American Christians and skepticism about climate change policy. The study contributes to the academic literature by synthesizing two bodies of literature: that dealing with American Christians’ beliefs and climate change and that dealing with the nature of climate skepticism. Using the insights of Niklas Luhmann’s Social …

Collaborative Professional Development Featuring Innovative Curriculum Materials, Cory Callahan

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

Here I synthesize two research investigations (Callahan, 2018, 2019) that comprise a continuing line of inquiry into the potential of innovative curriculum materials and sustained collaboration as a professional development program to help in-service teachers understand and implement a complex model of social studies instruction. This article features an original innovative curriculum material and specifically explores the question: To what degree can a collaborative professional development program featuring innovative curriculum materials help social studies teachers understand and implement a powerful social studies approach? Findings suggest the professional development program and its innovative curriculum materials helped teachers promote substantive pedagogical thinking …

Democracy Can Be Dangerous Work: The Story Of Youthbuilders Civic Education Program 1938-1948, Jessica Shiller

Democracy & Education

This article describes the work of a civic education program in New York City schools called Youthbuilders, which existed from 1938 to 1948. Youthbuilders' aim was to engage youth in civic education projects and teach them about their place in a democracy and worked with them to support racial and social equality. Shortly after World War II, they were attacked by a conservative Catholic organization that was working to eliminate groups associated with so-called Communist beliefs like social justice and racial equality. Youthbuilders shut their doors by 1948. The story is one that helps us understand the fragility of working …

“Heated, Polarized, And Annoying”: The Characteristics And Consequences Of Affective Polarization In Independent High Schools, Nora Gross, Ellen Bryer, Charlotte E. Jacobs, Jarvis Goosby

Democracy & Education

Affective political polarization, or a sense of political identity-based animosity or distrust, became especially heightened during the Trump presidency. However, we know little about how youth experience such polarization in school and its effect on their political socialization. With unusual access to high-status independent schools, this paper explores the characteristics, consequences, and evolution of affective polarization for adolescents during high school. We draw on open-ended responses to school climate surveys administered at nine schools, 2018-2019, in which many students described experiences of political polarization and partisan hostility present in their schools. These reports of affective polarization increased by students’ grade …

Do Students' Academic Capital, Knowledge And Attitudes Towards Mandatory Fees, And University Knowledge Predict Their Payment Methods?, Emeka Ikegwuonu, Lydia Ross

Journal of Student Financial Aid

Mandatory fees in higher education have increased substantially in recent years. These increases have changed the net cost of attendance for students from semester to semester. Coupled with these changes, we are witnessing an increase in students from diverse lived experiences who are traditionally unaware of costs associated with their attendance. As fees typically support services and programs that promote student retention and matriculation, students should be aware of these services and programs. Because these students have varied perceptions of costs and understandings of resources and systems in higher education, it may shape their payment methods. Our findings suggest that …

Dalcroze Eurhythmics: Origin, Development, And Considerations For The Choral Program, Leanna B. Iddings

Visions of Research in Music Education

This literature review describes the origin and development of Dalcroze Eurhythmics and the implications of utilizing this approach in the choral rehearsal. This information aims to equip choral directors with knowledge about how Eurhythmics can benefit their pedagogical practices and students’ experiences in choir. Émile Jaques-Dalcroze developed Eurhythmics in the late 19th century to facilitate profound musical learning experiences through mind and body integration. Current literature supports that the three Eurhythmics branches (rhythmics, solfège, and improvisation) can be applied to the choral setting and can impact student engagement, enjoyment, and musical achievement in the choral rehearsal (Butke & Frego, 2021; …

Modern Band Music Teachers' Adoption Of A Community Music Ethos In Online Teaching During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Bryan Powell, Gareth Dylan Smith, Warren Gramm, David Knapp

Visions of Research in Music Education

At intersections of popular music education, music technology, and community music practices, music teachers in the United States adapted to teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically from March 2020 to March 2021. The purpose of this research was to better understand the perspectives of modern band teachers regarding the opportunities and challenges of teaching music during the pandemic. The researchers interviewed four teachers who taught modern band (popular music) in public schools in geographically and demographically distinct parts of the US and found that each educator adopted a community music ethos in the online environment. An analysis of …

A Content Analysis Of Graduate Degrees In Music Education In Nasm Accredited Institutions, Karen Koner

Visions of Research in Music Education

The purpose of this study was to examine graduate degree programs in music education in NASM accredited institutions with the specific areas of degree and institution information, admissions, and curricula. For this content analysis, I collected data through the websites of NASM accredited institutions that offered graduate degrees in music education, including master’s degrees (N = 203) and doctoral degrees (n = 53). The institution and degree information for these graduate degree programs included types of degrees offered, format of degrees (e.g., summers only, distance learning), location where the programs were located, and Carnegie Classifications (American Council on Education, 2023). …

The Horrific Anxiety Of Resurrection: A Study Of Uncanny Mirroring In The Gothic, J.R. J. Rizzo

Locus: The Seton Hall Journal of Undergraduate Research

The overall theme of this paper surrounds the anxiety when coming face-to-face with the uncanny. More broadly, it seeks to unite the field of psychoanalysis and the horror genre in a symbiotic relationship. It is my belief, that within the heart of horror lies the mycelium of the uncanny. That is, where horrific themes and devices are, so too lives the uncanny.

Social And Environmental Determinants Of Occupation And The Need For An Intersectional Approach To Culturally Meaningful Practice, Diane Smith

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

To provide culturally-centered care to clients and develop interventions that meet the client’s holistic needs, occupational therapists need to consider social and physical environments affecting participation in culturally meaningful occupations. Using a case study, this paper describes the use of the concept of social and environmental determinants of occupation (SEDO) as a necessary strategy to incorporate in clinical practice to determine how SEDO intersect, resulting in occupational justices/injustices that influence access to participation. SEDO are defined as broad (and intersecting) social and environmental factors that increase or limit an individual, community, or population’s ability to participate in culturally meaningful occupations …

Guidelines For Conducting Survey Research: Part 1 – Development And Recruitment, Diane Powers Dirette, Rob Lyerla

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Polarization In Multidisciplinary Perspective, Eugen Dimant, Erik O. Kimbrough

Economics Faculty Articles and Research

This article provides an introduction to and overview of the articles in the PNAS Nexus Special Feature on Polarization and Trust.

Executive Committee - Agenda, 10/15/2024, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

An Update To The October 2015 Working Draft On Drogheda – Ireland’S Emerging Sixth City, Using 2022 Census Data, Brian Hughes Dr, Brian Hughes Dr

Reports

This research update of author’s earlier Paper of October 2015 ‘Greater Drogheda: Emerging Demographic Evidence Base for Ireland’s Sixth City’ by reviewing and updating the growth of the Greater Drogheda Area (GDrA). It includes an examination of the fusion of its two largest settlements, Drogheda and fast-growing Laytown, Bettystown, Mornington and Donacarney (LBMD) towns. The scale of Drogheda’s growth is evidenced as a city and not that of the National Planning Framework’s Regional Growth Towns, as the evidence of this Paper will show. My 2015 paper and also my 2010 PhD are published in [email protected], under Brian Hughes.

Essays On Information Technology In Healthcare, Gleb Zavadskiy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Information technologies (IT) and information systems (IS) have profound significance across various sectors of society, including healthcare, business, education, government, and beyond. First, IT facilitates instant communication globally through email, messaging apps, video conferencing, and social media, revolutionizing how individuals and organizations interact, collaborate, and share information (Hacker et al. 2020; Tang and Hew 2020).

Secondly, the Internet and digital libraries provide worldwide access to vast amounts of information, what makes knowledge and education available to everyone, empowering individuals to learn and stay informed on diverse topics (Haleem et al. 2022). Another aspect of IT systems in various industries is …

The Terminological Objections Between Ibn Malik And Abu Hayyan Al- Andalousi: An Analytical And Fundamental Study., Taha Abboud

Al Jinan الجنان

Grammar books are replete with various terms and concepts, encompassing diverse boundaries and connotations that have contributed to the study of grammar in one manner or another. The idea serves as the fundamental dimension in terminology, acting as the cohesive step requisite for its sociological applicability and usability. Before the manifestation of a term in its physical form, it existed as an abstract mental image, reflecting the amalgamation of individual topics, generally unified by standard features or as an intellectual representation of tangible and abstract entities. Terms are, therefore, symbols of concepts as we perceive them, underscoring that concepts were …

Standing Still, Go Along, And Zooming In: Complementary Strategies Of Participant-Observations In Urban Ethnography, Lene Granzau Juel-Jacobsen

The Qualitative Report

This paper seeks to complement conventional ethnographic participant observation methods, proposing the integration of three distinct strategies. Motivated by own ethnographic studies, conducted in an urban supermarket and a food festival site, the paper contends that traditional long-term immersion may not always suffice for investigating transient urban phenomena. The paper advocates for the integration of complementary methodological strategies for participant observation adaptable to evolving contexts and research questions. Firstly, the "standing still" approach involves minimal engagement while observing a specific scene or interaction, offering a detached yet insightful perspective on fleeting moments or events. Secondly, the "go along" strategy entails …

Intergenerational Transmission Of Wisdom Through Family Narratives: A Qualitative Analysis Of Emerging Adults' Perspective, Emilia Mazurek

The Qualitative Report

Family narratives are a medium for the intergenerational transmission of life wisdom, which may influence recipient’s beliefs system and behaviors. Despite a growing body of knowledge on wisdom, emerging adults remain insufficiently researched as to what wisdom from their perspective was conveyed to them through stories. The aim was to identify what wisdom emerging adults perceive in the narratives told them by their parents about themselves. The study was conducted in Poland. Convenience sampling was used. 42 emerging adults (33 female, 8 male, 1 non-binary) ranging from 19 to 22 years participated in the study. Participants were asked to write …

How Has Health Literacy And Digital Health Literacy Scholarship Evolved? A Global, Qualitative Study, Brooks Yelton Ma, Lmsw, Mayank Sakhuja, Simone Kavarana, Lauren Schaurer, Michelle Angelique Arent, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Mark M. Macauda, Samuel Noblet, Daniela B. Friedman

Publications

Health literacy (HL) is a key social determinant of health (SDoH) and is of increasing importance in public health research and intervention for improved health outcomes. Definitions of HL and digital health literacy (DHL) have evolved over time as the field has expanded conceptualization from an individual focus to the broader community and organizational levels. Careful consideration of HL and DHL for a variety of contexts and audiences is critical given increased global adoption of digital technologies and responses to emerging public health challenges. This study aimed to capture researchers' conceptualizations of HL/DHL and their motivations to engage in this …

The Professional And Educational Backgrounds Within Non-State Actors, Patrick Finnegan, Evan Perkoski, Alec Worsnop, Meredith Maloof Loken

Reports, Projects, and Research

This research report was commissioned for an expert report series led by Evan Perkoski as part of his NCITE-funded project, Understanding the Link Between Recruitment and Operational Behavior of Terrorist Organizations. This study examines terrorist recruitment characteristics (such as military experience, professional expertise, age, gender, and education) against terrorist groups’ many operational characteristics (like lethality, success, complexity, innovation, and target types). This study also evaluates recruitment dynamics and success among contemporary groups operating in the U.S. This report passed peer- and scientific-review.

Leadership Strategies Used By Engineering Managers To Implement Global Positioning System To Increase Project Success Rates, Agha Bedar Bakht

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Poor leadership is a risk to small business enterprises’ survival because of its association with lowered productivity, stifled innovation, increased employee turnover, and potential financial loss. Ineffective leadership costs U.S. organizations up to $550 billion annually. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies engineering managers use to implement a global positioning system (GPS) in their organizations to increase project success rates for business outcomes. The population consisted of six engineering managers from two companies in the Bay Area and Southern California departments of transportation who had successfully used leadership strategies …

Emotionally Demanding Research: A Wartime Quest Or A Journey Of Connection, Thomas W. Gretton Dr, Anna Farello

The Qualitative Report

Emotionally demanding research (EDR) is a branch of qualitative inquiry that heavily draws from researchers’ psychological, emotional, and physical resources. EDR researchers have acknowledged diverse experiences and effects of EDR, including compassion fatigue, interpersonal tensions, and ill-being but there remains restricted, empirical understanding of how researchers perceive their relationship with EDR. Building on Kumar and Cavallaro’s (2018) model of researcher self-care in EDR, we explored how expert qualitative researchers encountered both the positive and the negative experiences and effects throughout their entire EDR journeys. Interview data were analyzed using a holistic form of structural analysis. Researchers narrated their EDR journeys …