Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Chronic Sleep Deprivation On Visuomotor Performance Using Electroencephalographic Measurement, Jaxon Duane Erie

Theses and Dissertations

The present study investigated the impact of acute and chronic sleep deprivation on visuomotor performance using both electroencephalographic (EEG) and behavioral measures (Senaptec Sensory Station) in a sample of 43 college students aged 18 to 27. Participants were assigned to low or high sleep conditions based on Chronic Sleep Reduction Questionnaire (CSRQ) scores, while acute sleep deprivation was assessed via the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS). Heart rate variability (HRV) was recorded to support condition placement, but comparisons revealed no significant differences between groups. No significant differences were found in visuomotor control or eye-quickness assessments. However, visual clarity was significantly better …

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 …

The Ability Of The Millon Pre-Adolescent Clinical Inventory (M-Paci) To Distinguish Between Adhd And Non-Adhd Clinical Groups, Michael Jowkar

Theses and Dissertations

The M-PACI is a personality scale based on Millon’s biosocial personality theory designed to measure emerging personality patterns in pre-adolescents (9-12 years old). There is minimal published research on this inventory, particularly in clinical contexts. For this study, we used a data set collected at a Midwestern private practice clinic where children are assessed for ADHD and learning disabilities. This study looks at how those diagnosed with ADHD differ in emerging personality patterns and current clinical signs scales compared to those in a clinical sample who have not been diagnosed with ADHD. Some studies have shown differences between children diagnosed …

Exploring Student-Athlete Perceptions On Nil Opportunities In The Cannabinoid Industry, Katherine Klimchock

Theses and Dissertations

The introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) regulations in collegiate athletics has created new financial and branding opportunities for student-athletes. Simultaneously, there has been an evolving legal landscape surrounding cannabinoids both at the state and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) levels. This dissertation in practice explores this emerging intersection by examining student-athlete perceptions of NIL opportunities with cannabinoid brands and highlighting the perceived advantages and disadvantages of such deals. This dissertation in practice consists of three artifacts. Artifact I provides essential background information on NIL, cannabinoids, and the House v. NCAA settlement. Recognizing the legal, institutional, and cultural shifts …

An Intersectional Exploration And Analogue Investigation Of Transgender And Gender Diverse Bi+ Women’S Preferences For Sexual Violence Vulnerability Reduction Interventions, Sara K. Kuhn

Theses and Dissertations

Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) bisexual+ (bi+, e.g., pansexual, polysexual) women disproportionately experience sexual violence victimization and their acceptability of applicable interventions is under-researched. Online self-report data was collected from 240 ethnoracially diverse bi+ adult American women, who identified as TGD (n = 69) or cisgender (cis; n = 171), and who read standardized descriptions of interventions. TGD bi+ women found intervention descriptions inclusive of their sexual and gender identities—and those including in-person active resistance strategy instruction (bystander/self-defense)—more acceptable. Intervention descriptions with alcohol use and/or sexual activity reduction components were largely found to be less acceptable. Intervention elements of importance …

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). …

Examining A Year One Sor Implementation: A Mixed-Method Study Of Teacher Experiences And Student Literacy Scores, Christine Litzinger

Theses and Dissertations

With increasing national and legislative mandates prioritizing SoR practices, many schools are shifting their literacy practices to align classroom instruction, interventions, and screening to follow reading research, which can require a shift in pedagogy for individual educators and schools. This exploratory sequential mixed-methods study explored a year one implementation of the Science of Reading (SoR) in a mid-size midwestern school district during their first year of across-district literacy reform. Qualitative case study interviews were conducted of K-3 Classroom teachers (4) and literacy coaches (4). Emergent themes from the findings included value in high fidelity professional development, challenges related to resource …

Student Participation In Informal Resolution: Examination Of Impact Factors On Recidivism And Student Perceptions Of Institutional Care And Fairness, Linnea Rose Nelson

Theses and Dissertations

This exploratory case study, conducted at the University of North Dakota (UND), examined factors influencing recidivism and student perceptions of institutional care and fairness among participants in the piloted Informal Resolution (IR) option. A restorative justice (RJ)-informed alternative to the traditional student conduct process, the IR is offered to students charged with first-time, low-level violations of UND’s code of conduct. This study aimed not only to evaluate the new process but also to respond to recent calls from scholars and practitioners for more extensive research on the intersection of RJ and student conduct outcomes. Sherman’s (1993) defiance theory provided the …

Military Recruitment And Retention: A Policy And Practice Analysis, Orly Naum

Theses and Dissertations

The ongoing decline in United States military recruitment and retention presents a growing challenge to sustaining an effective All-Volunteer Force (AVF), particularly within the United States Coast Guard, a branch that has historically been underrepresented in academic research, and across the Department of Defense (DoD). This convergent mixed methods study examined how generational cohorts and individual motivations influence recruitment and retention, integrating quantitative data from the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) and qualitative survey responses from a veteran-rich collegiate population. The quantitative analysis revealed statistically significant differences in Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) scores between Generation Z (GenZ) and Generation …

Using Machine Learning To Investigate Weather Impacts On Crop Yield For Probabilistic, Climate-Informed Predictive Crop Breeding, Levi Newell

Theses and Dissertations

As the world’s population continues to grow, the importance of food security willonly continue to increase, with some estimates requiring a global increase in food production between 59 and 98% by 2050. The agriculture industry is also a crucial economic driver, with the industry supporting 20% of the state of North Dakota’s workforce, and with a total valuation of $41.3 billion. The economic importance of this industry and the challenges of future growth prompt a need for data driven decision making into the future, particularly with predictive crop breeding. This is the method by which crops are developed that are …

From Theory To Practice: Addressing The Operational Challenges Of School Principals, Darin Murry Scherr

Theses and Dissertations

School principals play a crucial role in the effectiveness of educational institutions, yet many enter leadership positions lacking adequate preparation for operational responsibilities. This Dissertation in Practice examines the challenges principals face in managing financial, staffing, and facility operations and the impact of these challenges on principal retention. Using a qualitative multiple-case study approach, the research investigates the experiences of new and veteran principals within Bismarck Public Schools to identify gaps in their operational preparedness.Findings highlight five key themes: (1) gaps in financial and budgetary training, (2) the role of mentorship and support systems, (3) balancing instructional leadership with operational …

Ecological Dynamics In Beaver-Engineered Boreal Wetlands: Amphibian Phenology, Occupancy, And Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Communities, Talon Stammen

Theses and Dissertations

Boreal wetlands are ecologically rich yet vulnerable ecosystems shaped by hydrological dynamics, cold climate regimes, and landscape-scale disturbances. Among the most influential agents of change in these systems are beavers (Castor canadensis), whose engineering activities create a mosaic of lentic habitats at varying stages of ecological succession. This dissertation investigates the structure and dynamics of amphibian and aquatic macroinvertebrate communities across a beaver-influenced wetland landscape in Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota, USA.The first study (Chapter II) examines breeding phenology and detection patterns of boreal anurans using a combination of passive acoustic monitoring and visual encounter surveys at 25 wetlands over four …

Advancing Human-Computer Interaction Systems Through Explainable And Secure Ai Integration, Ifiok Udoidiok

Theses and Dissertations

As artificial intelligence (AI) systems increasingly shape how humans interact with digital environments, the need for transparency, security, and robustness in intelligent decision making has become critical. This thesis explores how explainable and secure AI techniques can be integrated into modern human-computer interaction (HCI) systems to enhance trust, resilience, and alignment with human operators.

We present three related studies, each addressing a distinct challenge in the design of human-centered AI. First, we apply XAI methods, specifically Local Interpretable Model-Agnostic Explanations (LIME), to deep learning (DL) based CAPTCHA solvers. By interpreting model attention patterns, we uncover exploitable weaknesses in text CAPTCHA …

Mindfulness And Modification Therapy (Mmt) Group Feasibility And Acceptability Among Prison Residents With Dysregulated Behaviors, Leslie Unger

Theses and Dissertations

Mindfulness and Modification Therapy (MMT; Wupperman, 2019) is a transdiagnostic therapy that systematically integrates aspects of six empirically supported treatments for impulsive and dysregulated behavior. As such, MMT may offer an efficient approach to addressing a variety of dysregulated behaviors, thereby supporting increased safety within carceral settings and enhancing goals of rehabilitation. To date, MMT has demonstrated positive results in community settings when treating substance misuse and anger/aggression, but it has not yet been examined in a prison setting. The present research examines the feasibility and acceptability of using a 14-session version of group MMT as a voluntary treatment option …

Targeted Coaching In The Detroit Promise Path: A Thematic Network Analysis Of Current Challenges And Opportunities For Student Success, Maryse Danielle Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

The Detroit Promise Program is one of the many college promise programs operating within the United States that offers full college tuition coverage to students within the city who meet certain residential criteria. Detroit’s population has one of the highest proportions of Black and first-generation students and the lowest average socioeconomic class in the country. From the time of the Promise Program’s launch until now it has seen minor improvements in college degree competition rates, but this rate is still low compared to the national average. The Detroit Promise Path, which is an off branch of the Detroit Promise Program, …

Public Perceptions Of Fracking And Anti-Fracking Activism: A Theory Of Planned Behavior Approach And Its Implications For Environmental Policy, Okhumode Hector Yakubu

Theses and Dissertations

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has become one of the most contentious energy technologies of the 21st century, drawing support for its economic and energy security benefits and opposition due to its perceived environmental and health risks. This study applies the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to examine the psychological, social, and informational factors that shape public perceptions of fracking and motivate anti-fracking activism. Using a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults (N = 522), this research investigates how attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and domain-specific knowledge predict support or opposition to fracking, as well as intentions to engage in …