Digital Commons Network^™

How Identities Shape Belonging In Occupational Therapy Education: A Phenomenological Exploration Of Student Belonging, Quinn P. Tyminski, Rowhea Elmesky

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Belonging is defined in a variety of ways but most often refers to an individual’s feelings of acceptance, inclusion, support, and respect within a certain environment. Belonging is an innate human need and contributes to success in academic and professional settings. Within occupational therapy (OT) education, minimal attention has been paid to the specific concept of belonging with no research focused on long-term qualitative explorations of student belonging for students with historically minoritized identities (HMIs). Thus, the goal of the present study was to better understand how students with multiple HMIs experienced the phenomenon of belonging in OT education. Utilizing …

Naming The Invisible: Exploring Implicit Design Thinking In Occupational Therapy Curricula, Dominique C. Sherratt, Mary Butler, Shoshannah Kiriam, Ben Sellar

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapy inherently involves the application of design and co-design skills within professional practice, yet there is limited evidence about how these skills are taught to students. This study used a qualitative descriptive design to explore the perspectives of occupational therapy educators in Australia and New Zealand on how and where design and co-design skills are integrated within occupational therapy curricula. Educators were purposively sampled from the Australian and New Zealand Council of Occupational Therapy Educators (ANZCOTE), with additional participants recruited through snowball sampling. Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with occupational therapy educators. Interviews were conducted and analyzed using the …

Reading Between The Lines: Exploring Reading Trends And Metacognitive Strategy Use In Ot Education, Whitney Henderson, Christine Davis, Christen Leach, Theresa Hallenen

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

No abstract provided.

Factors Influencing Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program Offer Acceptance Across Student Demographics, Megan Hoover, Mckenna Johnson, Colleen Bullen, Elizabeth K. Schmidt, Jackson M. Miller

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This research study aimed to identify key factors influencing Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) students' acceptance of program offers. An online survey was developed based on relevant literature and study objectives and validated through expert review. A total of 281 students, including a sub-set of students from underrepresented backgrounds (n=70), across the United States completed the survey. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, cross-tabulations, Chi-square tests with Bonferroni correction, and multinomial logistic regression including demographic variables and factors moderately to strongly influencing program acceptance. Qualitative responses were analyzed using content analysis. Key findings reveal geographic location, application process, cost …

Perceptions Of Occupational Therapy Student Fieldwork Readiness In The Acute Care Setting, Jackie Dusing, Lisa Borrero, Elizabeth Horrall Stith, Kristina Watkins

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapy student readiness for Level II fieldwork is necessary for preparing novice clinicians and is challenging to assess, as it requires applying didactic knowledge in real-world clinical settings. There is currently a gap in the literature regarding student perceptions of their readiness for Level II fieldwork, especially in the acute care setting. The aim of this qualitative study is to better understand Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) students’ perceptions of readiness for Level II fieldwork in an acute care setting. This basic interpretive qualitative research study utilized a purposeful sampling with students completing their Level II fieldwork in various …

Comparing Occupational Therapy Students’ And Occupational Therapy Assistant Students’ Perceptions Of An Intraprofessional Class Session, Robyn Wu, Diane Tom, Domenique Embrey, Joyce M. Fries

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Intraprofessional education between occupational therapy (OT) and occupational therapy assistant (OTA) students can be a valuable component of the entry-level curriculum. Comparisons of OT vs. OTA students’ perceptions are sparse, yet this information may yield important insights about intraprofessional learning needs. This mixed methods study explored student perceptions of a three-hour joint OT/OTA class session conducted via video conferencing. Learning activities were grounded in shared leadership and two-way feedback and included collaboration on a client case. A total of 172 anonymous post-class feedback surveys were received from 121 OT students and 57 OTA students over three academic years. The study …

Women Spinning On The Edge: Finding And Redefining The “Spinster” In The Witches Of Discworld, Kathryn Ann Fitzmaurice

Masters Theses

The word “spinster” has undergone a series of evolutions over the past seven hundred years, first coined to describe the occupation of women engaged in the spinning of plant and animal fibers into thread and yarn in the Middle Ages and later a legal marital status designation used until the 21^st century. The connotation associated in social contexts became pejorative. This project’s tracing of the word spinster is used to set up the broader scope looking at how the spinster can be viewed as an archetype, what we can learn through the lenses of gender and feminist theory, and …

Margaret Collins Weitz Papers (Ms109), 1945-2015: A Finding Aid, Suffolk University Archives And Special Collections

Suffolk University Archives and Special Collections: Finding Aids and Research Guides

The papers of Professor Emerita Margaret Collins Weitz of the Humanities and Modern Language Departments at Suffolk University relate to her scholarly research in the fields of women’s studies, French women, French culture and history, women in the French Resistance during World War II, and human rights. The collection also documents her extensive teaching career at Suffolk University in the Humanities and Modern Languages Departments and at Harvard University. The research collection includes interviews, published articles and books, conference materials, original research related to her publications, and class notebooks.

Characterization Of An Acetogenin-Carrying Nanosuspension And Its Effect On Bacteria Of Interest In The Poultry Industry, Brandon A. Lopez-Romero, Gabriela Aguilar-Hernandez, Billy Hargis, Maria De Lourdes Garcia-Magana, Ulises M. Lopez-Garcia, Rosa I. Ortiz-Basurto, Adalberto Zamudio-Ojeda, Juan D. Latorre, Efigenia Montalvo-Gonzalez

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

This work aimed to develop a nanosuspension (NSps) as an acetogenin (ACGs) carrier, using soy lecithin (SL) and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (beta CD) named NSps-beta CDSL-ACGs. It was characterized by various spectroscopic techniques (DLS, FTIR, UV-vis diffuse reflectance). Moreover, the NSps morphology was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Also, the antibacterial activity of NSps-beta CDSL-ACGs was evaluated against strains of interest in the poultry sector. NSps-beta CDSL-ACGs presented nanometric size (207-239 nm), acceptable polydispersity index (PDI) values (0.13-0.17) and a high Z potential value (-47.17-50.36 mV), demonstrating high stability. The presence of ACGs in NSps-beta CDSL-ACGs was confirmed by FTIR analysis. …

Effects Of Production System With Or Without Growth-Promoting Technologies On Growth And Blood Expression Of (Cyto)Chemokines And Heat Shock And Tight Junction Proteins In Bos Taurus And Indicus Breeds During Summer Season, Mark Branine, Ashley K. Schilling-Hazlett, Pedro Carvalho, Kim R. Stackhouse-Lawson, Edilane C. Martins, Julia T. De Silva, Laura Amundson, Chris Ashworth, Mike Socha, Sami Dridi

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Heat stress (HS) induced by global warming is a real welfare, productivity, and economic burden of cattle production. However, some cattle breeds have superior physiological adaptive traits to others, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully defined. The present study aimed, therefore, to determine the expression profile of stress-related molecular signatures in the blood of thermosensitive Angus (Bos taurus) and thermotolerant Brahman (Bos indicus) cattle breeds managed without (CON) or with growth-promoting technology (TRT) during the summer (April-October, 2023) season in Colorado, US. Body weight (BW) was significantly increased from April to October, and the amplitude was greater for …

Spatial And Temporal Assessment Of Meteorological Drought Using The Standardized Precipitation Index (Spi) And Its Effect On Crop Yield Over The Corn Belt Region Of The United States From 2000 To 2023, Victor Araya

Theses and Dissertations

Climate change and global warming have contributed to extreme weather events and patterns, including severe flooding, earthquakes, wildfires, and drought. Drought happens to be the deadliest catastrophic event around the world. Drought's impact on ecosystems and local communities has been increasing in many parts of the world, including the United States and, most importantly, the corn Belt, which also happens to be the country's food basket. Understanding drought prediction and mitigation can be investigated through drought indices. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) is considered the most reliable in this study. It is used in this study to present the critical …

Great Expectations: How Gender Assigned At Birth Shapes Viewpoint Based Perceptual Disparities In Gender-Diverse People, Adelyn Emter

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine disparities between personal beliefs and perceived societal ideologies about earning gendered traits and maintaining masculinity and femininity, with a focus on gender-diverse perspectives and the influence of gender identity on responses to social research. The current study recruited 334 gender-diverse participants to compare Viewpoint and Gendered Trait based on participant Gender Assigned at Birth, using twelve statements about earning and maintaining masculinity and femininity. The Traditional Egalitarian Sex Role (TESR) Inventory and Social Dominance Orientation (SDO) Scale were used as covariates which significantly contributed to the model. As expected, societal belief scores …

Belongingness And Science Identity Of Underrepresented Students In Aerospace Sciences, Bella Hettich

Theses and Dissertations

Despite efforts to support underrepresented individuals—specifically those from racial, ethnic, and gender minority groups—they continue to face unique challenges that affect their belongingness in aerospace sciences, leading to issues with retention in educational programs and subsequent professional pathways. Such hindrances to personal achievement can also impede broader organizational goals. Addressing these challenges is critical, as supporting the success of underrepresented individuals fosters diverse perspectives, which are essential for driving innovation and maximizing organizational productivity. Just as importantly, ensuring that every individual, regardless of background, has access to opportunities and the support needed to succeed fulfills an ethical obligation. Upholding the …

Creating Equitable Employment Practices For Adjunct Faculty: Perceptions Of Academic Administrators At Public Institutions In A Great Plains State, Constance Mciver

Theses and Dissertations

Adjunct faculty are a substantial feature of the higher education classroom. Their increased prevalence has contributed to elevated concerns regarding the employment practices of these part-time faculty. While numerous published accounts of adjunct faculty experiences are available, recorded perceptions of academic administrators are less prevalent. Eighty-six academic administrators from six public universities in a Great Plains state participated in a researcher-developed survey to determine the expectations placed upon and compensation practices for adjunct faculty, as well as perceptions of the strengths and weaknesses of the adjunct system and the feasibility of providing more equitable compensation. Survey findings suggest there is …

Teacher Skills Needed For Effective Participation In Multi-Tiered Systems Of Support (Mtss): A State Framework Analysis, Melissa Osborne

Theses and Dissertations

This study is a secondary data analysis that uses a validated rubric to score the degree of alignment between the teacher skills (TS) necessary for the effective implementation of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and the preservice teacher training standards (PTS) across five states located in the North Central United States. This investigation also assessed whether states employing an MTSS process to establish special education eligibility for specific learning disabilities (SLD) exhibit higher alignment between TS and PTS compared to states that do not follow that process. Literature outlines the TS needed in an MTSS framework, but there is limited …

High-Fidelity Surface And Environment Simulation Using Immersive Virtual Reality For Lunar Analog Training, Shriya Pedaparthi

Theses and Dissertations

The study explores the integration of high-fidelity Virtual Reality (VR) into astronaut training for lunar analog missions. A realistic VR simulation was developed to represent lunar terrain, allowing participants to perform critical tasks under simulated lunar conditions. Specifically, participants navigated from a compromised lunar habitat (ILMAH) facing a pressure breach, to a secure facility, testing their ability to respond effectively to emergency scenarios. Participants underwent three sequential trials to assess how VR and physical constraints influence gait and performance: (1) a baseline trial measuring natural gait without equipment; (2) a trial incorporating a real spacesuit and lunar gravity simulated through …

Addressing The Impact Of Unlicensed And Under-Licensed Teachers In Pk-12 Schools: How School Administrators Offer Support, Taylor Topinka

Theses and Dissertations

As the impact of the teacher shortage grows, more teachers are entering classrooms with incomplete teacher licensure. Related literature affirms that new-to-profession teachers experience what Danielson (1999) described as a “sink or swim in the deep end of the pool” culture as they attempt to navigate the beginning of their teaching career with an incomplete license or no license entirely (p. 251). The influx of partially-licensed teachers engaging students is a dilemma created by the growth of the teacher shortage. The purpose of this study was to address the impact of unlicensed and under-licensed teachers on student growth and achievement …

Stem Professors’ Motivation To Engage In A College Teaching Certificate, Justin Craig Alexander

Theses and Dissertations

Despite an expanded focus on educating students in STEM disciplines, nearly half of U.S. college students who enroll in these degree programs fail to graduate (Hamm et al., 2020, p. 623). Critics sometimes blame pedagogically untrained faculty (e.g., Kahn, 2022). This Dissertation in Practice (DiP) focused on STEM university faculty's motivation for teaching and whether professors are motivated to enroll in pedagogy courses. Via the lens of self-determination theory (SDT), this DiP examined to what extent STEM faculty at a major research university in the upper Midwest could devote additional time to pedagogy by enrolling in a college teaching graduate …

Exploring The Experiences Of First-Year Pre-Nursing Students’ Sense Of Belonging In A Living-Learning Community And First-Year Seminar, Robyn Bancroft

Theses and Dissertations

Many factors may influence how a student experiences their first year adjusting to college life. The University of North Dakota, a public research institution located in Grand Forks, ND, recently implemented a nursing living-learning community (LLC) comprised of first-year, pre-nursing students, which also required the students to take a one-credit first-year seminar (FYS) together, known as UNIV 101 – Introduction to University Life. A total of 10 participants who resided within this living-learning community for a minimum of one academic year and were enrolled in the same section of UNIV 101 during their first semester submitted reflection papers. Additionally, eight …

Mental Health Stigma Among Latiné Adolescents: Help-Seeking Intentions And Recommendations, Brenda D. Barragan

Theses and Dissertations

Latiné adolescents in the United States face increasing mental health challenges, including elevated rates of depression, suicidal ideation, and emotional distress, particularly in underserved regions such as the Midwest. Despite these needs, Latiné adolescents remain underrepresented in mental health research, particularly with respect to how cultural values and intersecting identities—such as gender, immigrant status, and perceived socioeconomic status—influence stigma and help-seeking behaviors. Grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study explored how mental health stigma and cultural factors shape help-seeking intentions and recommendations among 95 self-identified Latiné adolescents in North Dakota and Minnesota. The study examined two primary …

Exploring The Concepts Of Rematriation And The Sugpiaq/Alutiiq People’S Traditional Values And Ways Of Being To Address Historical Trauma: A Qualitative Study, Tara Lynn Christiansen-Stiller

Theses and Dissertations

This study is a collaborative exploration of the intersection of traditional Sugpiaq/Alutiiq values, historical trauma, and the process of rematriation. It aims to understand how these elements contribute to healing, resilience, and identity restoration within the Sugpiaq/Alutiiq community. Utilizing a qualitative research approach grounded in Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), the study engages in in-depth interviews with Alutiiq elders, cultural leaders, and community members. Their lived experiences and perceptions are integral to the research process. The study seeks to uncover how Sugpiaq/Alutiiq cultural values, such as community solidarity, connection to land, and spirituality, protect against the impacts of historical trauma. Additionally, …

Congolese Refugee Narratives Of Belonging, Grief, And Cultural Continuity In Appalachia, Kayla Davis

Theses and Dissertations

This research examines the communicative challenges that Congolese refugees face after resettlement, particularly as they strive to reconstruct a sense of belonging in the United States that reflects their experiences in either their home country or secondary countries where they endured protracted displacement in refugee camps. Narrative qualitative research methods were used to conduct interviews with five Congolese refugees in Appalachia. Through qualitative thematic and lexical analysis derived from the interviews, the study reveals patterns of linguistic isolation, community continuity, and emotional displacement. A key finding is that participants often conceptualize community not as a geographic entity, but as an …

Exploring Refugee Students’ Experiences In Midwest Higher Education Environments: Culturally Responsive Practices For Educators, Rohana De Silva

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined the teaching and learning strategies used by highereducation faculty to support refugee students at a Midwestern university. Recognizing that refugee students bring diverse cultural, linguistic, and experiential backgrounds to academic environments, this research examined how instructional practices can either promote or hinder their educational success. Traditional teaching methods often fall short in addressing the complex needs of this student population. Using Yosso’s Community Cultural Wealth Framework, Bourdieu’s Theory of Cultural Capital, and Resilience Theory, this study analyzed the narratives of refugee students to uncover how their lived experiences influenced their educational journeys. Findings revealed that refugee …

Practices Of North Dakota Vocal Music Educators With Exemplary Implementations Of Culturally Responsive Education, Allyse L. Dunnigan

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the culturally responsive practices of exemplary vocal music educators in North Dakota, with a focus on understanding how they implement culturally responsive education in their classrooms. As student populations become increasingly diverse, educators remain predominantly White, leading to cultural disconnects that can hinder student engagement and academic success. Utilizing a qualitative, phenomenological research design framed by culturally responsive music education, this study captures the lived experiences of five vocal music educators identified for their exemplary use of culturally responsive practices. Data collection included semi-structured interviews, analyzed to identify practices, challenges, and impacts on students. Findings reveal that …

Rethinking Pilot Retention In The United States: An Analysis Of Key Factors, Michael James Hickey

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examined pilot retention challenges in U.S. regional and low-cost carriers (LCCs), focusing on nonfinancial incentives such as quality of life, career stability, and work-life balance, which may have a greater influence on retention than traditional financial incentives. This quantitative, survey-based approach assesses how pilots rank the factors that influence their retention. Using a sample of U.S.-based pilots, the study examines six key areas adapted from a European pilot retention framework. Statistical analyses, including the Friedman test, the Mann-Whitney U test, and the Kruskal-Wallis test, identified correlations between demographic variables and retention priorities. The inherent financial constraints of regional …

Visible, Invisible: (Levantine) Arab American Men On Mental Health, Nesreen Jaber

Theses and Dissertations

To address the dearth in psychological research and practice in regards to Arab American men, this study examined the lived experiences of seven Levantine (Belad Al Sham) Arab American men with origins in Palestine, Lebanon, and Iraq. Semi-structured interviews, Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), and a Liberation Psychology framework were utilized to explore their definitions of mental health, their experiences of stigma, their experiences with mental health therapy, and their attitudes towards psychology and therapy. A total of seven superordinate themes emerged that highlighted the roles of gendered stigma, cultural incongruence in therapeutic praxis, Eurocentric norms in psychology, and conceptualizations of …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Motivations, Persistence And Challenges Of African Immigrant Adult Learners In Community Colleges In Minnesota, Saah Jackson Delu Kpakar

Theses and Dissertations

African Immigrant Adult Learners (AIAL) are considered an exclusive demographic group who left Africa and obtained permanent residency in the United States. They experience a wide range of challenges in their quest for postsecondary education, which impact their access, persistence, and academic success. The purpose of this qualitative study based on a phenomenological approach was to explore the factors that motivate African Immigrant Adult Learners and enable them to persist and remain resilient in their pursuit of higher education at community colleges in Minnesota. The theories that guided this research are the Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and Schlossberg’s Transition Theory (STT). …

Barriers And Facilitators Of Integrating Cervical Cancer Screening Into Routine Hiv Care And Acceptability Of Self-Sampling For Hpv Dna Testing Among People With Hiv: An Exploratory Study In Southern Ghana, Evelyn Yayra Bonney, Emmanuel Frimpong Gyekye, Jonathan Klutse, Dzidzor Aku Attoh, Yeena Abla Tay, Nicholas Ekow Thomford, Mary Amoakoh-Coleman, Kwadwo Ansah Koram, George Boateng Kyei, Collins Stephen Ahorlu

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer poses a substantial global health challenge, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income nations. Women living with HIV are disproportionately affected compared to the general population. Our study explored the acceptance and preferences of participants regarding cervical cancer screening procedures during their HIV clinic visits.

METHODS: Using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to inform questions, we conducted semi-structured in-depth qualitative interviews with 85 people with HIV (PWH), across six southern Ghana sites, to identify factors that could promote or impede the integration of cervical cancer screening into HIV care in Ghana. We also explored the acceptability of …

Adapting A Sexual And Reproductive Health Program For Latina Teens And Their Female Caregivers: A Qualitative Study, Katherine G Merrill, Ana A Baumann, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Adaptation is widely recognized as important when interventions are to be delivered in new settings or with new populations. However, there are gaps in the literature on how adaptations are carried out and documented. IMARA is a 12-h evidence-based sexual health intervention for Black teens and their mothers, designed for delivery over two days. We present our systematic process of adapting IMARA for Latinas to produce the

METHODS: Using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, we carried out a qualitative study that included 7 focus groups: 4 with staff from community partner organizations (

RESULTS: Informed by the data, …

Problem-Solving Training To Improve Caregiver Burden And Depressive Symptoms Among Dementia Caregivers: Personal And Clinical Factors Of Responders Vs. Non-Responders, Shannon B Juengst, Matthew Lee Smith, Kristin Wilmoth, Brittany Wright, Gang Han, Charlene Supnet, Gladys Maestre

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Metacognitive strategy training interventions, like Problem-Solving Training/Descubriendo Soluciones Juntos (PST/DSJ), have efficacy for improving caregiver burden and depressive symptoms. We previously demonstrated that PST/DSJ improved caregiver burden and depressive symptoms among caregivers of adults with Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias (ADRD), regardless of the number of sessions or boosters received. However, these results did not examine factors characterizing those who responded (improvement in caregiver burden or depressive symptoms) or did not respond to the intervention.

OBJECTIVE: To identify key personal and clinical factors associated with response to PST/DSJ. Personal factors included age, gender, race, Hispanic ethnicity, education, and employment …