Digital Commons Network^™

A Phenomenological Study Examining The Methods Of Elementary Special Education And General Education Co-Teachers Who Foster The Use Of Behavioral Management Strategies For Students With Emotional Behavioral Disorders, Tanekal White

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore the methods and strategies that special education and general education co-teachers use to foster behavioral management for students with emotional behavior disorders (EBD) in the interrelated resource, inclusive co-taught, and EBD self-contained settings. The theories guiding this study are Bandura’s self-efficacy theory (SET) and Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory (SCT). Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy helped explore teachers’ effectiveness in instilling behavioral and instructional strategies, that induce success for students with EBD. Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory was used to examine the importance of students with EBD being educated alternative ways that ensures compensation for unwanted …

The Effectiveness Of Christian Accommodative Mindfulness In Christian Women Of African Descent Who Suffer From Depression And Anxiety, Claudia Isaac Kidd

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

While existing research has indicated the effectiveness of Christian accommodative mindfulness (CAM) to lower symptoms of depression and anxiety, no CAM studies have focused specifically on Christian women of African descent (CWOAD). The aim of this exploratory, case-series study was to examine the effectiveness of the CAM protocol by addressing the participants’ intervention comparison outcomes time (PICOT) question: Among a clinical sample (N = 3) of CWOAD recruited from the waitlist of a Christian counseling center (P) how effective was the CAM protocol (I) indicated by changes over time (C) in the participants’ scores for (1) depression, (2) anxiety/stress, (3) …

Exploring The Lived Experience Of Women Seeking Treatment For Genito-Pelvic Pain And Penetration Disorder: A Phenomenological Study, Emily M. Lacy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study explored the lived experiences of women seeking treatment for genito-pelvic pain, aiming to identify how each person experiences barriers and facilitators toward obtaining treatment as well as their outlook on the future regarding treatment. The research sought to provide an understanding of their experiences, with implications for minimizing current barriers and building accessibility and awareness. A qualitative phenomenological design was utilized to obtain the data from participants through semi-structured individual interviews. Nine individual interviews were completed with women between the ages of 27 and 44-years-old who have experienced symptoms of genito-pelvic pain for at least 1 year and …

Perceived Career Barriers Among Women Working In Public Transportation Based On Leadership Development Training And Race: A Causal-Comparative Study, Tamika Gunn White

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, causal-comparative study investigated differences in perceived career barriers among women engaged in leadership development training programs and those who were not, with a specific focus on their racial backgrounds. The research targets women within the public transportation workforce, utilizing a convenience sample comprising individuals willing and able to provide insights into the issue of perceived career barriers among women in this sector. Purposive inclusion criteria encompass self-identifying as a woman, reporting ages between 25 and 65, and current employment in the public transportation sector. The Perception of Barriers Scale assessed career- and education-related barriers. The data collection procedure …

A Phenomenological Study Of Middle School Teachers Implementing Social-Emotional Learning, Post Covid-19 At A Predominantly Hispanic School, Kutana Nichol Parrish

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to understand the lived experiences of the ten middle school teachers implementing social and emotional learning, post COVID in a predominately Hispanic suburban school in Gwinnett County School District in Georgia. The theory guided by this study is emotional intelligence by psychologist Daniel Goldman but was first used by Peter Salovey and John Mayer in 1990. Daniel Goldman defines emotional intelligence as having the ability to identify nonverbal cues, using emotion to guide one’s thinking, understanding information that is communicated, and actions of emotions, and the capability to self-regulate emotions. Collaborative for …

The Impact Of Policing On Female Police Officer’S Parenting Styles, Debbie Michelle Chambers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of female police officers with children in rural Georgia. For years, women have been proving themselves in this profession only to face gender inequality, discrimination, harassment including physical, emotional, and sexual, and skepticism from the community. Despite these barriers, females have achieved high-ranking positions in local and state agencies and federal law enforcement. This achievement has come with a price that could impact how the female officer parents her children. Several studies have been conducted on a variety of factors impacting the female police officer, such as rank, position, …

Harmonizing Faith Across Generations: The Spiritual Resonance Of Modernizing Traditional Worship Lyrics, Hyoeun Eunice Jeon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The quest to create an inclusive worship environment that honors diversity without sacrificing the sacred essence of traditional hymns is challenging. This study is anchored in the understanding that music, as a profound expression of faith, has the power to transform individuals and communities, and therefore modernizing traditional hymn lyrics could be vital in bridging the generational divide. This would then enhance the sense of togetherness in communal worship. By employing a qualitative research approach, this study analyzes the impact of lyrical modernization on intergenerational engagement within worship settings. Data was collected through interviews and participatory observation, tapping into the …

Easy As 1, 2, 3: An Analysis Of Rhythm-Counting Systems And Their Affect On Performance Accuracy In Beginner Band Students, Brendan Beiersdorfer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Music educators implement rhythm-counting and syllable systems globally to guide students in rhythm interpretation and performance. These systems are often associated with music disciplines and cultural regions; however, the influence of these systems on students’ rhythmic performance accuracy is not well-documented. This quantitative, quasi-experimental study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Traditional, Kodály, and Takadimi rhythm-counting systems on the rhythmic performance of beginner band students. The sample included students from three educational settings (n = 146), each providing instruction in one of the three rhythm-counting systems. Pre- and post-instruction assessments were administered to measure rhythmic accuracy and compare each …

Predicting The Effects Of Cyberpatriot Participation, Internet Experience, Gender, And Grade Level On Cybersecurity Judgment (Intuitive And Rational) Among Middle And High School Students: A Quantitative Predictive Correlational Study, Sarah Shin Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational study was to determine if cybersecurity judgment (intuitive and rational) could be predicted from a linear combination of years of CyberPatriot participation, internet experience, gender, and grade level among middle and high school students. The importance of this study lies in its potential to address a critical gap in understanding factors influencing cybersecurity judgment decisions among middle and high school students. From a suburban high school in the western part of the United States, 123 middle and high school students who participated in the CyberPatriot after-school program volunteered as samples in this study. …

Student Success And Retention In Online Post-Secondary Education: A Phenomenological Study, Alison Weslake

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the experiences that participants from Northeastern College have in post-secondary online learning environments and recognize the overall factors that lead to student success and retention. The theory that guided this study was Bruner’s constructivist theory as it indicates the influence of experience on cognitive development and encourages the consideration of all factors that may impact the overall learning process. A hermeneutical phenomenological study was conducted with participants from Northeastern College in Ontario, Canada in order to accurately reflect personal experiences with the phenomenon of online post-secondary education. The central research question …

Brain Volumes, Cognitive, And Adaptive Skills In School-Age Children With Down Syndrome, Rebecca Grzadzinski, Kelly Botteron, Natasha Marrus, Robert Mckinstry, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Down syndrome (DS) is the most common congenital neurodevelopmental disorder, present in about 1 in every 700 live births. Despite its prevalence, literature exploring the neurobiology underlying DS and how this neurobiology is related to behavior is limited. This study fills this gap by examining cortical volumes and behavioral correlates in school-age children with DS.

METHODS: School-age children (mean = 9.7 years ± 1.1) underwent comprehensive assessments, including cognitive and adaptive assessments, as well as an MRI scan without the use of sedation. Children with DS (n = 35) were compared to available samples of typically developing (TD; n …

Navigating Cultures, Engaging In The Process: International Graduate Students' Leadership Process, Laura Vaughn

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Cultural And Societal Influences On Perceptions Of Police Legitimacy And Trust In Law Enforcement Among Minority Communities, Carmen A. Fry Sandoval

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This thesis explores the cultural and societal influences that shape perceptions of police legitimacy and trust in law enforcement among minority communities in the United States, with a focus on Black and Latino populations. Grounded in both personal experience and scholarly analysis, the research examines how historical injustices, economic restructuring, demographic transitions, and modern policing practices intersect to affect community-police relations. Through a comprehensive literature review, this study analyzes key works on community policing in South Los Angeles, the deployment of less-lethal weapons, body-worn camera implementation, youth engagement programs, and community-driven violence prevention efforts. Findings reveal that systemic inequities and …

The Other War: The Evolution Of United States Psychological Warfare In The Vietnam War From 14 May 1965 To 11 September 1966, Brandon J. Libro

Masters Theses

The creation of the Joint United States Public Affairs Office (JUSPAO) on 14 May 1965 revitalized the psychological warfare (PSYWAR) campaign in Vietnam after decades of post-World War II drawdown and initiated a more targeted and efficient employment of psychological operations (PSYOP) throughout the American war effort. To understand the evolution of Vietnam-era PSYOP, it is imperative to explore the United States military’s implementation of PSYWAR and analyze how it changed throughout the conflict. The challenges the United States faced conducting the “other war” in Vietnam were evident from the start of its involvement in Vietnam, and the PSYWAR effort, …

Disciplinary Variation In Curriculum Internationalization: Findings From A Global Pilot Study, Pouneh Eftekhari

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

The Civil Law And The Inner Self: Roman Iniuria And The Transformation Of The Private Sphere, Talya Deibel

Journal of Civil Law Studies

This paper focuses on the transhistorical nature of the protection of personality interests in the civilian tradition. It takes Roman iniuria as a key concept to analyze the legal protection of the “inner selves” of human beings. The legal framework of iniuria stands out as an illustration of how social and moral phenomena which belonged to the interior realm such as honor, dignity, emotions, and reputation carried legal value in Roman law. Starting from its origins in Roman antiquity, this paper views the inner self through the legal prism of personality protection and comments on how formative periods in history …

Review Of Inferring And Explaining, Ioan Muntean

Open Educational Resources - Reviews

No abstract provided.

Nipping Crime In The Bud: The Spatial Relationship Between Crime And Meeting People’S Needs, Alicia Cerquone

LSU Master's Theses

The recent high-profile killings of people by the police brought attention to police violence, and prompted activists to call for an end to police violence. Drawing from an understanding of strain theory (Merton, 1938; Farnworth & Leiber, 1989; Agnew, 1992; Agnew, 2001; Agnew, 2008) and Tucker and Cadora’s (2003) ideas of justice reinvestment, this research was designed with the belief that police funding can be better used to help people meet their basic needs of housing, healthcare, and education. This research is concerned with the spatial relationship between crime and the quality of social infrastructure, or the programs in place …

Racial And Ethnic Differences In Outcomes Of Neonates Born At Less Than 30 Weeks' Gestation, 2018-2022, Nansi S. Boghossian, Marco Geraci, Erika M. Edwards, Jeffrey D. Horbar

Faculty Publications

Importance: Previous research has examined outcomes among very preterm newborns by the birthing parent's race and ethnicity, but knowledge about these trends during the COVID-19 pandemic is limited. Objective: To examine trends in outcomes among Black, Hispanic, and Asian preterm newborns compared with White preterm newborns. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study (2018-2022) took place at 774 neonatal intensive care units in the Vermont Oxford Network. Participants were newborns born at 22 to 29 weeks' gestation. Exposure: Race and ethnicity. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcomes were mortality and complications, including respiratory distress syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), early-onset …

Assistive Technology Abandonment With Veterans And Leisure Activities, Tara Lamson, Lee Ann Hoffman, Mary Greer

Fall 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

Veterans using assistive technology (AT) often face barriers that limit their participation in meaningful leisure activities, negatively impacting their mental health and quality of life. This project aimed to address these challenges by developing an educational program focused on improving AT management, reducing abandonment, and promoting leisure engagement. A needs assessment of veterans in Abilene, TX, revealed critical issues, including barriers to leisure, limited community involvement, and gaps in AT maintenance education. The program delivered web-based and in-person resources on AT use, adaptive leisure strategies, and equipment recycling. Key outcomes included enhanced social participation, improved independence, and sustainable solutions for …

Parents' Perceptions On The Impact Of Recreation On Emotion Regulation In At-Risk Youth, Latasha Harvey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the thoughts, attitudes, experiences, and beliefs of parents of at-risk youth participating in inner-city neighborhood programs regarding the use of fitness, sports, and cultural arts in recreation to attain emotion regulation. The self-determination theory, developed by Ryan and Deci (2017), guided this study. The theory is based on the principle that individuals possess the ability to think logically, manage their emotions, and judge optimistically. The central research question for this case was How do parents view involvement in recreation for at-risk youth as it pertains to emotional development? The study design …

The Soil Test: Facilitating Increased Receptivity To Spiritual Formation In A Large Church Through Education, Motivation, And Resources, Rosemary Moore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Decades of recent research and writing about spiritual formation and discipleship assume that there will be growth in spiritual maturity if churches have more models and biblical information. However, the literature addresses the wrong problem; it presupposes that the church is ready for spiritual formation. In their efforts to facilitate it, those trying to help the church are like the farmer who sows seed onto unprepared soil. Good seeds, such as discipleship groups, are sown into the soil of the church without paying attention to whether the soil can produce a harvest. The project posited that five conditions should be …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Experience Of Institutional Betrayal And Help-Seeking Behaviors Of Military Sexual Trauma, Victoria Sheree Tolbert

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe military sexual trauma survivors' experiences of military institutional betrayal and help-seeking behaviors. The study was grounded in Jennifer Freyd’s institutional betrayal theory. Using institutional betrayal as a framework was useful in illuminating the effects of institutional betrayal on survivors' perceptions of trust, safety, and decision-making regarding seeking support. The study aimed to understand the complex dynamics between institutional responses, perceived betrayal, and subsequent support-seeking actions among MST survivors within military contexts. Data collection included in-depth interviews, journaling, and cognitive representations with purposively sampled MST survivors. The study used thematic analysis to …

Exploring Nutrition Teachers' Perspectives Of Enacted Nutrition Policies To Address Childhood Obesity In The Bahamas, Shondell M. De Velde

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to gain a comprehensive understanding of nutrition teachers' perspectives on enacted nutrition policies aimed at combating childhood obesity in The Bahamas. The central phenomenon of the study is teachers' perspectives of enacted nutrition policies to address childhood obesity in The Bahamas. The Health Belief Model (HBM) developed by Irwin M. Rosenstock in the 1950s was used to provide a theoretical framework, that can be used to understand nutrition teachers' perceptions and actions related to enacted nutrition policies. The HBM delves into an individual’s motivation to accept healthy behavior and is thus constructed to …

Stopping The Transference: Family Resilience Concerning High Adverse Childhood Experience Through A Genogram Study Of Southern Appalachian Storytelling Culture, Brittany Shay Teague

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of multi-generational Appalachian storytellers and their culture to discover if there was a decrease in Adverse Childhood Experiences and increase resilience across generations. Vygotsky's Communication Theory, which emphasizes child development through language and communication, and Masten’s Resilience Theory, which emphasizes that children can develop resilience with the assistance of their caregivers, guided this study. The research questions asked were as follows: How do they describe the impact of storytelling and genograms on resilience and intergenerational transference?  How do they describe the importance of storytelling? How would they describe …

Implementation Strategies To Improve Medication Adherence In Adolescents (Aged 13 To 17 Years) With Antipsychotic Induced Weight Gain: Educational Toolkit For Clinicians, Joy Asike

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Nonadherence to medication leads to relapses of condition, frequent hospitalization and poor outcomes. Although antipsychotics are effective in the management of mental disorders and psychosis, the side effects, especially weight gain negatively influence medication compliance. Anti-psychotics related to weight gain is one of the most concerning treatment-emergent side leading to a great burden on patients, parents, and clinicians. Obesity and antipsychotic-related weight gain increase the risks to short- and long-term physical health problems such as metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, diabetes, hypertension. Evidence has shown that there is generally low guideline adherence regarding the monitoring of antipsychotics, especially in children and adolescents. …

Covid-19 Effects On School Choral Music Programs’ Rehearsal Instruction: Exploring Responses, Sharing Teacher Perceptions On Future Preparedness, Watson Chilala

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The US experienced increased hospitalizations resulting from a resurgence of COVID-19 infections from Late July to mid-September 2023. Among educators and parents, the trend brought back memories of government school closures and their school instruction-related repercussions. This qualitative holistic case study explored how school choral music directors perceive their choral music programs' preparedness to mitigate instruction-related losses should future pandemics or long-term disruptions to instruction occur. The study examined relevant literature vis-a-vis journal articles and books and conducted open-ended interviews online, by phone, and in person. This study can empower choral music education with teaching strategies to improve SCMPs’ future …

A Phenomenological Analysis Of African American Clergy And Congregation Weight Loss Interventions, Linda Fay Carper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This phenomenological study examines the lived experiences of Houston African American clergy regarding their roles and effectiveness in leading weight loss interventions within their faith-based communities. The research addresses the gap in peer-reviewed literature on the impact of Houston-area African American faith-based leadership on the success of weight loss initiatives. Grounded in the Transtheoretical Theory, the study explores clergy perceptions of decisional balance, self-efficacy, and processes of change to inform future health interventions. Ten purposive participants, meeting the inclusion criteria of being clergy leaders in Houston-based congregations with at least 50% African American membership, shared their insights. Data were collected …

Symptoms Of Academic Burnout In Associate Degree Nursing Students, Laura J. Witherspoon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Academic burnout may contribute to high attrition in associate degree nursing (ADN) students because academic burnout affects academic success, causes physical and mental health problems, and decreases self-esteem. Academic burnout may be more prevalent in ADN students because ADN programs are shorter but more intense. The purpose of this study, guided by Maslach’s multidimensional theory of burnout, was to examine the relationship between time in the ADN program and symptoms of academic burnout in nursing student participants and the difference in academic burnout among the four semesters in the ADN students. Maslach’s Burnout Inventory-General survey for students was emailed to …

A Phenomenological Study Examining How Ages Of Attention-Deficit Diagnoses Affect Adult Perceptions Of Achievement, Janeen Kingma

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenology was to discover how adults diagnosed with attention-deficit (ADD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), at different ages, view their experiences, and how the ages of diagnoses affected their view of educational achievement and occupational success. A qualitative research design was used to collect data about the experiences of adults who were diagnosed at different ages. Guiding this study were two educational theories: Bandura’s social-cognitive theory, which promotes self-efficacy, and self-determination theory (SDT) (Ryan & Deci, 2020), which proposes that all individuals innately pursue self-optimization. A hermeneutic approach was chosen to interpret the analysis of data. …