Digital Commons Network^™

Exploratory Study Of Selected Paintings Of Jesus Christ, Sarah O'Brien Laverone

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study employs digital artifacts to explore paintings of Jesus through iconography, semiotic analysis, visual culture/visual studies, ancient Christian history, the importance of digital pedagogy, and digital preservation of the artwork of Jesus, thereby digitally preserving culture and the religious culture of Jesus as a transformational leader. Paintings, frescoes, and other art media such as sculpture or ancient books are the educational tools and the elements of exceptional, invaluable, and immeasurable historical legacy. Cultural heritage preservation is a growing demand; digital technology reduces costs and allows for a broader application of techniques (Stanco et al., 2011). Paintings of Jesus …

The Effects Of Exposure To War & Attachment Disruption On Children Of War Leading To Negative Mental Health Outcomes, Chantal Daley

Theses and Dissertations

Children of war tend to endure abuse, witness deaths, killings, and sexual violence, and are also often coerced into committing violent acts. They are subjected to exposure to war-related traumas and as a result often become displaced from their primary caregiver and attachment figure and this relationship is disrupted. The primary aim of this systematic review was to explore the negative mental health outcomes in children of war into adulthood following attachment disruption and exposure to war. It also aimed to examine what protective factors mitigated these negative mental health outcomes and whether outcomes and protective factors varied according to …

Current Trends In Assessment Training At Clinical Psychology Doctoral Programs, Darcy Perrin Darrell

Theses and Dissertations

Psychological assessment is a fundamental competency in clinical psychology doctoral training, yet inconsistencies persist in the content and structure of assessment education across programs. This study aimed to evaluate current trends in psychological assessment training at American Psychological Association (APA) accredited clinical psychology doctoral programs, with particular attention to the implementation of the APA Guidelines for Education and Training in Psychological Assessment in Health Service Psychology. Utilizing a nonexperimental, descriptive design, the study analyzed 85 syllabi submitted by 58 programs, as well as publicly available curricular information. A rubric was developed to assess the extent to which course syllabi reflected …

Reflection & Reciprocity: The Role Of Community In The Career Decision-Making Processes Of Indigenous & Non-Indigenous College Students, Amanda M. Langhorst

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the complex role of community in the career decision-making of college students. Our career decisions impact our life in many ways; individualistic cognitive models provide some insight but miss the important relationships and interaction we have with our communities and the role of culture. Through 45 interviews across a primary sample and two contrast samples with public university college students and student service professionals, this research revealed two key processes in how we utilize community in our career decision-making, reflection & reciprocity. The data resulted in a Community-Embedded Career Decision-Making Model showcasing the process of “how” we …

From Silos To Synergy: A Multi-Case Study Of The Enablers And Inhibitors Of Successful Post-Acquisition Technology Platform Integration, Nasario Mejia

Theses and Dissertations

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have long been an important strategy for achieving growth. Levels of M&A have been increasing over the past 10 years. An enduring challenging problem post M&A is the effective integration of the technology platforms of the acquired and acquiring firms. This study investigates the enablers and inhibitors of successful post-acquisition technology platform integration (PATPI) through the lens of interdependent People, Process, Technology, and Data capabilities. Based on data collected from interviews with senior leaders combined with publicly available secondary data, a multi-site qualitative comparative case study analysis was used to identify enabling and inhibiting platform integration …

Self-Compassion And Leadership Effectiveness At Work, Janette Muñoz

Theses and Dissertations

Leaders are currently facing unprecedented times in the workforce, with rapid technological advancements, complexity with geopolitical implications and economic fluctuations, and employee disengagement. Through these changes, leaders are expected to make business decisions, guide their teams, and deliver business results. To navigate these complexities, the role of business leaders is evolving, making self-compassion and associated practices potentially important for leaders. Complexity and the speed of change may lead to an increase in challenges and mistakes experienced at work, actual or perceived, which may lead to decreased internal capacity, higher stress and potentially burnout. This study explores the relationship between self-compassion …

Rehabilitation And Community-Based Interventions That May Aid In Reducing Loneliness Among Individuals With Moderate-To-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review, Tristan Meier

Theses and Dissertations

Self-reported loneliness is commonly reported among those with a history of moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury; yet, research into interventions appropriate for the post-acute phase that may help reduce the feeling of social disconnection in this vulnerable population remains limited. This study employed a systematic review and narrative synthesis format to provide an overview of current literature on interventions and programs that report or comment on the reduction of self-reported loneliness and related proxy variables for those affected by moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury. Database searches were conducted using PsycINFO, Academic Search Complete, SCOPUS, and PubMed. A total of 18 research articles …

She Works Hard For The Money: Black Women Entrepreneurs, Business Networks, And Entrepreneurial Success, Dejuan Erica Price

Theses and Dissertations

Although Black women launched an estimated 2.08 million businesses in 2023 (accounting for 14.8% of all women-owned firms), they remain significantly underrepresented among high-growth, well-capitalized enterprises. This paradox highlights the need for deeper examination of the structural and social factors that shape their entrepreneurial experiences and outcomes. Using an exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach, this study examined how network structure, networking behaviors, personal motivations, and social contexts influence entrepreneurial success among Black women founders. The qualitative phase revealed how faith, emotional labor, social isolation, and cultural values shaped participants’ definitions of success and approaches to entrepreneurship. Founders emphasized purpose, healing, and …

Navigating The New Normal: A Grounded Theory Study Of Lessons Learned About Leadership Practices Since The Pandemic In Multimodal Workplace Settings And The Future Of Work, Jessica Arriaza

Theses and Dissertations

The global pandemic has profoundly transformed leadership and the work landscape across multimodal workplace environments (onsite, virtual, and hybrid). As organizations navigated unprecedented disruption, leaders had to respond with agility, empathy, and innovation. This qualitative, grounded theory study explored the transformative impact of post-pandemic changes on leadership practices within the evolving workplace landscape and future work trends. The overarching research question guiding this study was to what extent, if at all, leadership practices have evolved since the global pandemic across onsite, virtual, and hybrid workplace settings, and what skills, strategies, and practices will future leaders need to navigate the future …

The Efficacy Of Trauma-Informed Treatment For Undocumented Latinx Immigrants With Manifestation Of Trauma Symptoms: A Systematic Review, Daniel Lopez

Theses and Dissertations

This systematic review provides a narrative synthesis of the trauma symptom manifestation in the undocumented Latinx immigrant population, how acculturation impacts trauma symptom manifestation, and what interventions have been shown to be effective in treating trauma symptoms with this population. Using specific search terms, the PsycINFO and Scopus databases were searched. After a review of the full-text, a total of 26 articles met the inclusion criteria. Results indicated that undocumented Latinx immigrants present with trauma symptoms associated with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), somatic symptoms, and symptoms associated with …

Psychotherapy And Changes In Adult Attachment: A Systematic Review, Meghan Kussman

Theses and Dissertations

Attachment insecurity is a transdiagnostic vulnerability factor linked to a wide range of emotional and relational difficulties. Although early attachment patterns tend to be relatively stable, research indicates that attachment orientations can change over time, particularly in response to significant relational or therapeutic experiences. This systematic review examined 39 empirical studies published between 2000 and 2024 to determine whether engagement in psychotherapy is associated with changes in adult attachment security. Eligible studies assessed attachment both pre- and post-treatment using validated self-report measures (e.g., Experiences in Close Relationships Scale; ECR) or interview-based measures (e.g., Adult Attachment Interview; AAI), and reported statistically …

The Successes Of African American Female Community College Chancellors, Erika Miller-Tate

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how the lived experiences of African American women community college chancellors contributed to their success as leaders. Three African American female community college chancellors participated in the study. Four themes emerged from the thick, rich descriptions provided through participant responses in semi-structured interviews. The four themes were encouragement, success, problem solver/leadership, and race/gender. The conclusions of this study point to the themes which influenced the successes of African American community college chancellors. The lived experiences shared by these women offered greater insight into the professional role of an African American female …

The Influence Of Fictional Storytelling On The Student Experience In A Gamified Classroom, Arrash Jaffarzadeh

Theses and Dissertations

This exploratory case study evaluated how the use of gamification and game-based learning (GBL) with the added element of storytelling affected engagement and attitudes of children ages 9 to 13 as they participated in quests to complete their learning objectives.  Archived artifacts of a computer technology class in a northern California private school using the Applied Computer Technology Education (ACTE) framework taught to grade 4-8 provided the data for the study.  Each quest was comprised of a fictional story that tied to the lesson. These stories involved the three archetypes of the warrior (herald), healer (ally), and mage (trickster) on …

Evidence-Based Treatments With Chileans, Caleb James Sheldrup

Theses and Dissertations

A dearth of research exists regarding evidence-based interventions for Chileans as well as research on barriers to mental health care services. In particular, there is a lack of research on adapting evidence-based practices in the Chilean context. This review examined the existing literature and succinctly discussed the existing interventions and adaptations. This review posed the following questions: (a) Which existing mental health interventions have evidence of effectiveness with Chilean populations? (a1) What are the core features of effective interventions for Chileans? (b) Which cultural adaptations are most effective at modifying mental health treatments for Chileans? (c) What adaptations are being …

Adhd Black Girl Magic: A Narrative Inquiry Of The Lives Of Black Women With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder In Doctoral Programs, Talisha Tolliver-Haithcox

Theses and Dissertations

Black women with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in doctoral programs have not been a topic of interest. Instead, the emphasis of ADHD research has been on children and adolescents, with studies involving higher education focused on undergraduate students, which has left a significant gap in the literature. This study uses narrative inquiry to explore the lived experiences of Black women with ADHD navigating doctoral programs to fill that gap in research and improve the lives of these Black women. Utilizing disability theory, a blend of disability theory and critical race theory called DisCrit, and Black feminist theory, this research examines how …

Best Practices In Leadership In Probation, Ronamae Panganiban

Theses and Dissertations

Research indicates that leadership in law enforcement is a continuous learning process (Birzer et al., 2016; Davies & Heysmand, 2021; Niles et al., 2024; Roberts et al., 2016). Due to the complex structure and changing environment, leadership responsibilities fall upon multiple individuals in a chain of command (C. Davis, 2020; G. W. Garner, 2016; Sienkiewicz-Malyjurek, 2016). The research study aimed to identify best practices for leadership in law enforcement that leaders employ that make them successful. It used a phenomenological qualitative design and purposive sampling method to obtain a sample size of 15 participants. The study utilized a semi structured …

Employee Perception Of Manager Listening Behaviors And The Impacts On The Supervisor-Subordinate Relationship, Esther Song

Theses and Dissertations

Strong communications skills are one of the most coveted capabilities in the workplace today. Within two-way communication, listening is often overlooked as a critical skill. While there have been many theories and skill-based training around listening, it is difficult to find a consistent, global definition to listening. This lack of definition makes is challenging to assess what “good” listening skill entails. Moreover, this lack of definition creates a gap in understanding effective measures for listening in the workplace, particularly in assessing the supervisor/subordinate relationship. This study focused on understanding listening in the workplace. In particular, this study looked at employee …

Training And Resource Manual: Integrating And Exploring Language And Cultural Competencies For Trainees And Supervisors, Patricia Rayas-Tabares

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explored the scholarly literature and extracted important themes regarding the training and development of bilingual psychology trainees. The first theme was the language challenges bilingual trainees face due to their proficiency in Spanish when delivering services to Latinx limited English-speaking or monolingual Spanish-speaking clients when the trainee has received little or no training in Spanish. The second theme was bilingual supervision. When the trainee was matched with a supervisor who was not from the same culture or proficient in Spanish, many challenges occurred for the trainee and the supervisor. The final theme was about the trainee’s experience. Bilingual …

Upskilling California’S Public Health: An Assessment Of An Online Data Science Program, Michelle Ruiz

Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical gaps in public health workforce data capabilities, prompting increased investment in data science training. This instrumental case study examined the effectiveness of University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health's online data science training program, developed in partnership with the California Department of Public Health to strengthen the state's public health workforce. The study analyzed program artifacts collected between October 2023 and September 2024, including Course Analytics Reports documenting enrollment patterns and Course Evaluation Reports structured according to considering the first two levels of Kirkpatrick's Four-Level Training Evaluation Model (1994). Analysis of nine courses revealed …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Autistic Youth Mental Health, Chase Keyler

Theses and Dissertations

This systematic literature review explores the experiences of autistic youth during the COVID-19 pandemic and their ongoing adjustment in a post-pandemic world. It focuses on three primary concerns: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ASD youth’s mental health, the factors influencing their adjustment during and after lockdown, and post-pandemic recommendations for clinicians and stakeholders. A comprehensive electronic literature search was conducted across six databases within the EBSCOhost platform. Study selection consisted of three phases: an initial screening (title and keywords), a partial review (title, keywords, and abstract), and a full- text analysis. The results of this systematic review indicate …

Mental Silence For Emotional Intelligence Development, Mina N. Nandwani

Theses and Dissertations

While emotional intelligence is considered key for effective leadership, and perhaps the most vital competency for current and emerging leaders to cultivate, there appears to be uncertainty on how to develop it. This study examined how the practice of Sahaja Yoga Meditation (SYM) influences the development of emotional intelligence and contributes to the advancement of global leadership capacities, addressing a gap in the current literature. The conceptual frameworks of SYM, Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence Model, and the literature on global leadership, particularly Jeffrey Sachs’ Ages of Globalization, guided the research question. By implementing a qualitative phenomenological research approach, ten long-time …

Student Success, Suicide Rates: A Correlational Study Of Pressures On, And Expectations For High School Students In The United States, Matthew Baham

Theses and Dissertations

Suicide among high school students has become a growing health crisis, with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation increasing at an alarming rate. The purpose of this quantitative research is to explore the correlation between high school graduation requirements, pressures associated with college applications, and rising suicide rates among high school aged students in grades 9 through 12. With the increase in academic demands, standardized tests, extracurricular activities and a competitive college admissions process, has created an enormously high-pressure environment in high school education. These stressors are shown to have an intense impact on high school …

Resilience And Stress: Trauma, Grit, Resilience And Perceived Organizational Support In First Responders, Paige Gallas Parker

Theses and Dissertations

First responders comprise an underserved and under-researched population, despite consensus that their work involves exposure to potentially traumatic events. Inconsistent definitions of “first responder” and unclear prevalence rates of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) limit efforts to assess and promote resilience. This study examined the relationships between grit, resilience, perceived organizational support, and trauma symptoms in a sample of 234 first responders (69% firefighters, 29% lifeguards) employed by a large West Coast fire department. Measures included a demographics questionnaire, the Professional Exposure to Traumatic Events (PETE), the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), the Short Grit Scale …

Educating Outdoors: A Qualitative Case Study On School Readiness Development In A Nature-Based Preschool, Lauren Lefevre

Theses and Dissertations

Play is widely considered one of the most crucial activities for healthy early childhood development, yet many current early childhood education (ECE) programs prioritize academics at the expense of this critical activity. Despite this focus on math and literacy skills, a significant number of children arrive at kindergarten unable to demonstrate proper school readiness. Nature-based early childhood education (NbECE) is a growing alternative education option that prioritizes risky play, loose parts play, and nature play, potentially providing children with countless opportunities for school-readiness development through play. Guided by the biophilia hypothesis (Wilson, 1984), which suggests that humans are innately drawn …

Evaluating The Clinical Effectiveness Of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: A Systematic Review Of Outcome Studies, Gregory Bendau

Theses and Dissertations

The present review systematically examined current outcome studies on psychodynamic psychotherapy to build a comprehensive understanding of its overall effectiveness. The review synthesizes 43 outcome studies, including randomized controlled trials (n = 26) and quasi-experimental designs (n = 17), across diverse durations, settings, and clinical presentations. The review included quantitative, peer-reviewed studies written in English and published between 2015 and 2024 that measured the treatment outcomes of psychodynamic psychotherapy. Results showed that 41 studies (95%) reported significant symptom improvements for psychological conditions and disorders, including mood, personality, anxiety, somatic symptom, trauma, eating, mixed disorders, and general psychological distress. Effect sizes …

Generative Ai's Impact On Student's Motivation And Well-Being In Online Graduate Programs: A Phenomenological Study Through Self-Determination Theory, Sohee Linda Lee

Theses and Dissertations

While higher education has increasingly embraced emerging technologies, limited research explores how adult learners at the graduate level navigate AI-driven feedback, content generation, and learning supports, particularly within online programs that require self-regulation and advanced academic rigor. To address this gap, this qualitative, phenomenological study examined how graduate students enrolled in online degree programs experience and interpret the use of generative AI (GenAI) tools, such as ChatGPT, in their coursework. Drawing on Self-Determination Theory (SDT), this study focused on how the use of GenAI tools may influence students’ perceptions on autonomy (volition and choice in tasks), competence (confidence in academic …

Empowered Creation: Investigating Business Acumen And Technological Engagement Among Female Artists As Creative Entrepreneurs, Heggins-Jackson Tracey

Theses and Dissertations

The most powerful vehicle for communication and change is art. Creative endeavors have served humanity as a source of motivation and inspiration, as agents for shaping meaning and, most importantly, evoking empathy. Unfortunately, women in the arts face significant challenges due to deeply entrenched stereotypes, social expectations, societal norms, and gender-related misinformation, which result in destructive narratives. Paradoxically, this marginalized population possesses the skills and insights needed to address disparities through authentic narrative dissemination. Research indicates a limited focus on the contributions and pathways of women in the creative arts industry as entrepreneurs, explicitly highlighting their genuine needs conveyed through …

Latina Physician Assistants In Clinical Leadership Roles: Motivations, Challenges, And Insights, Ana Ruiz-Peña

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the rapidly growing Latino population in the United States, only a few of them are physicians, physician assistants (PAs), or nurses. This limited representation becomes smaller with Latina PAs in clinical leadership roles, leading to a health disparity that could negatively impact the health care of the Latino community. To gain a deeper understanding of this issue, the researcher conducted a phenomenological qualitative study examining the lived experiences of Latina PAs in clinical leadership roles, focusing on their motivations, challenges, and strategies for overcoming these barriers. The study was theoretically grounded in theories related to culture, gender, and socioeconomic …

Leveling The Playing Field: A Phenomenological Study Advocating For Diversity In Nba And Wnba Sports Organization Leadership, Alejandra Jimenez

Theses and Dissertations

Through phenomenological research, a global leadership and change initiative is outlined for US-based sports organizations. The sports organizations are the National Basketball Association (NBA) and their extended female league, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Both organizations recruit international players, attract global fans, and enhance current diversity policies to promote underrepresented women and people of color in leadership. The NBA and WNBA public human resources and diversity policies provide underrepresented leadership rates and efforts for questionnaire data sets and qualitative interviews. Nationally, these major sports organizations should further develop policies and practices to increase Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEI&B) …

Developing A Gpt-Based Virtual Training System For Medical Undergraduates' History Taking In Stroke Rehabilitation, Chao-Yu Hsu, Ching-Lin Hsieh, Jeng-Cheng Wu, Wen-Hsuan Hou

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Background: Effective history taking in stroke rehabilitation requires comprehensive assessment skills, yet opportunities for medical undergraduates to practice such skills remain limited. Virtual patients (VPs), especially those powered by large language models (LLMs), offer a promising solution. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a GPT-based virtual training system for functional assessments in stroke rehabilitation history taking.

Methods: A mixed-methods design was employed in which VPs were modeled on a clinical stroke case and 10 core domains of functional assessments in stroke rehabilitation were integrated. A virtual examiner (VE) module provided automated scoring and feedback. Phase 1 evaluated the reliability …