Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring Health Equity With Culturally Specific Providers Of Permanent Supportive Housing, Judith Solomon

University Honors Theses

Chronic homelessness is an important public health issue. Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) is a promising opportunity for transitioning people experiencing homelessness into housing, however there remain unaddressed racial inequities in service provision and outcomes. The aim of this study is to better understand the role of culturally specific (CS) providers of PSH in improving health equity. I analyzed interviews with CS PSH providers for themes related to health and healthcare. Providers spoke about the importance of connecting clients to healthcare. Providers stressed the importance of honesty and lived experience, highlighting the strong sense of responsibility to the community. Providers also …

“Call It What You Want” Analyzing Taylor Swift’S Communication Strategies During Public Controversies, Isabella Cuello

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examines Taylor Swift’s crisis communication strategies during public controversies, particularly her disputes with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian between 2016 and 2019. Using Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT) and Symbolic Convergence Theory (SCT), this research employs qualitative analysis to assess media framing, symbolic narrative construction, and the role of digital engagement in reputation management. Through a thematic analysis of 72 lifestyle journalism articles (in U.S. based publications from 2016-2019), the findings reveal that Swift strategically navigated public scrutiny by reclaiming negative imagery, such as the snake symbol, and leveraging social media to reframe her public persona. The study …

The Impact Of Visual Brand Identity On Consumer Response In Rebranding: A Case Study Of Burger King, Andressa De Ungaro Dos Santos

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This case study investigates consumer perceptions of rebranding through the lens of visual brand identity (VBI) and brand associations, focusing on Burger King’s recent rebranding. Using the Aaker Model as the theoretical framework, the study analyzes how brand awareness and associations influence consumer responses to visual identity changes. The research involves two focal areas in which comparative study will be applied by: (1) analyzing rebranding awareness by evaluating media coverage of Burger King’s new branding; (2) examining consumer-brand relationships through social media interactions to understand responses to the rebranding and to measure emotional and associative responses to visual elements. Through …

Indifference To Difference Or In Deference Todifference: A Treatise Of Inclusion, Noel Pariñas

Mabini Review

This paper is a critical investigation of the concept of inclusion. It argues that the alternatives or disjuncts in the strict or exclusive disjunction are mutually exclusive: either we exclude, or we include – no middle ground. The choice to either totally exclude or totally include is a political exercise of freedom of being indifferent to differences or being deferent to differences respectively. In this context, inclusion is viewed as a critical attitude towards pluralism that accepts, but not without deep examination, the breaches of totality and the advances of the radical alterity. The paper begins with [1] a careful …

Araling Pangmanlalakbay: Mga Komento, Puna, Atrekomendasyon Sa Isang Bagong Sublarangan Ngaraling Kabanwahan (Travelers’ Studies: Comments, Critique, And Recommendations For A New Subfield Of Araling Kabanwahan For International And Cultural Studies), Mark Joseph Pascua Santos

Mabini Review

Last April 20, 2023, the book Banwa at Layag: Antolohiya ng mga Kuwentong Paglalakbay ng mga Pilipino sa Ibayong Dagat was officially launched. Edited by Axle Christien Tugano, it contains 56 chapters written by 52 contributors about their own experience of traveling outside (and inside [in the case of one particular chapter]) the country. It is for this occasion of book-launching that this review was written. In particular, it focuses on the introduction of Tugano as the editor entitled “Kapookan ng Paglalakbay ng mga Pilipino sa Ibayong Dagat sa Konteksto ng Banwa at Layag sa Wikang Filipino,” especially on his …

The Relevance Of Cultural Transformationand Autonomy Of Thinking In Filipinophilosophy: A Critical Essay, Nathanael Navarro

Mabini Review

Problematizing the coming fruition of cultural transformation and autonomy of thinking, this essay attempts to give Filipino society a disillusioned view of its national character. Centering on Leonardo Mercado’s trite notion of a given and almost static culture, the essay argues that cultural change is possible and necessary in the formation of a culture of intellectualization. This essay also serves to expose the working assumptions at the core of Mercado’s brand of Filipino Philosophy to deliver a prompt reminder of the purpose of philosophizing as an emancipative act from any face of social oppression. Ultimately, it challenges the view that …

Resonances Of Universalism In Tolkien's Legendarium, Nick Polk

Journal of Tolkien Research

Presented at the inaugural Holy Moot, a survey of a collection of passages from Tolkien's writings that demonstrate having the resonances of patristic universalism is conducted. It is then argued that all Tolkien’s writings be investigated separately in their context, comparing the location of each item under investigation with one another, and explore their connections without syncretizing them into a monolithic construct. To do this, it is argued that a hermeneutical theory rooted in the philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead is necessary. Concluding is a connecting of Whitehead's understanding of the expression of language with Tolkien’s own understanding of expression …

Biblical Women Reimagined A Devotional Where Women's Voices Are Heard, Natalie Karlson

Doctor of Ministry

The vocational context of this project portfolio is a small spiritual direction practice found in central Massachusetts. The directees are women who attend or have left the evangelical church for distinct reasons. One of the key issues that these women face is the dismissal or minimization of their voices. Leaders stopped these women from using their voices. The women could not ask questions, share their experiences, or make decisions about their spiritual journeys. Considering the context and stakeholder feedback, the NPO: the dismissal of women’s voices denies the evangelical church the complete revelation of God’s work among humans.

Four key …

Feature Manifold Transformer For Detection Of Differential Item Functioning: Visual Detection Of Categorical Feature Nonconformity Through Attention-Based Analysis, Derrick A. Cox, Tanvi Banerjee, William L. Romine

Computer Science and Engineering Faculty Publications

Methods for interpreting complex feature interactions in educational assessment data remain a critical challenge, with traditional statistical approaches often creating barriers to accessibility and interpretability. We introduce the Feature Manifold Transformer (FMT), a novel machine learning approach that leverages dimensionality reduction, representation learning, and transformer architectures to visualize and interpret feature relationships in categorical data. Using the Concept Inventory of Natural Selection (CINS) and Concept Assessment of Natural Selection (CANS) datasets as testbeds, we demonstrate the FMT’s ability to capture subtle relationships between student demographics and response patterns. Our methodology enables both global and local pattern analysis, providing interpretable visualizations …

The Effects Of Social Learning On Second Language Acquisition And Memory: An Fnirs Study, Siena Christensen

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis addresses the question of what effect social learning has on successful second language acquisition behaviorally and neurologically. Participants were taught novel L2 words in a social learning condition and a non-social translation condition. They were then tested with a social testing condition and a non-social translation condition right after learning and at a later date, either 1 week, 4 weeks, or 2 months after learning. Brain activity was measured by comparing oxygenated hemoglobin levels with an fNIRS device. A significant positive effect of sociality was found for response accuracy, as words learned in the social condition performed better …

Classroom Teachers' Approaches To Values Education: Exploring Explicit And Implicit Strategies For Teaching And Modeling Values, Maria Ukamaka Clare Okeke

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Abstract This study explores the approaches Nigerian secondary school teachers in Anambra State use to teach values through explicit and implicit methods. Recognizing the need to understand how values are effectively communicated in the classroom, this research delves into the dual strategies employed by educators and their impacts on student moral development. The research used a qualitative interview study approach, which included semi-structured interviews with ten experienced secondary school teachers and a document analysis of teaching resources. This method allows one to investigate the explicit instruction and implicit modeling strategies applied in values education in depth. Findings reveal that teachers …

2025.03.13 - Academic/Student Affairs, Enrollment, And Technology Committee Meeting Minutes, Northeastern Illinois University Board Of Trustees

Board of Trustees - 2025

Meeting materials for the NEIU Board Trustees

“Because That’S What Scientists Do…. They Like To Make Their Own Stuff”: Exploring Perceptions Of Self As Science-Doers Using The Black Love Framework, Rasheda Likely, Ti’Era Worsley

Faculty Articles

This paper critiques traditional science assessments and advocates for reform-based learning that supports culturally diverse students, aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). While NGSS promotes collaborative, inquiry-driven practices, these are often difficult to assess through traditional high-stakes tests, which tend to reinforce systemic biases and marginalize students from non-dominant backgrounds. We examine the Lotions and Potions: Science through Black Hair Care curriculum, which uses a culturally sustaining approach, allowing students to respond flexibly in assessments. This approach enables students to participate fully in science practices without needing to conform to dominant cultural norms. Our findings highlight the benefits …

Racialization Of Urban Black Middle School Students From The Perspective Of Middle School Teachers: A Phenomenological Study In Central And Southeast Michigan, Bryan L. Spencer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Walden University College of Education and Human Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Bryan L. Spencer has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Michael Langlais, Committee Chairperson, Psychology Faculty Dr. Matthew Hertenstein, Committee Member, Psychology Faculty Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph.D. Walden University 2025   Racialization of Urban Black Middle School Students from the Perspective of Middle School Teachers: A Phenomenological Study in Central and Southeast Michigan by Bryan L. Spencer MPhil, Walden …

Effective Strategies Call Center Managers Use To Develop And Sustain Team Collaboration In A Virtual Work Environment., Daivon M. Bruce

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some small business virtual call center managers struggle to implement effective remote communication strategies, leading to inefficient team collaboration. As a result, decreased productivity and poor communication can negatively impact customer service, employee engagement, and overall business performance. Grounded in Tuckman's group development theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic study was to explore communication strategies that five virtual call center managers used to develop and sustain team collaboration in Northern New Jersey. The data collected from semistructured interviews were thematically analyzed, revealing three key themes: (a) communication, (b) teamwork, and (c) challenges with the use of technology. A primary …

Storytelling As Research Methodology And Pedagogy: Connecting The Researcher And Practitioner Through Narrative Inquiry, David Wolff

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

The most effective teachers are reflective teachers. Reflective teachers are curious about their pedagogy and their impact on student learning and often seek out opportunities to formalize their reflective process and share their stories about their teaching practices. Teachers’ knowledge is founded in their stories of experience (Ciuffetelli et al., 2011). The author positions themselves as the researcher in this autoethnographic narrative inquiry, or self-study. As the researcher, they use the narrative inquiry methodology to study themselves and explore the learning process of using storytelling in their Social Studies methods course in a Teacher Education program while exploring the research …

Responding To Canada’S Health Care Deficit For Underserved Communities, Michael Sullivan

The Appendix, Journal of Health Care Law & Policy

No abstract provided.

Remaking A Monument: The Troubled Meaning Of Fascist Remains In Contemporary Spain, David Divita

Pomona Faculty Publications and Research

The Valley of Cuelgamuros, until recently known as the Valley of the Fallen, lies about 35 miles outside of Madrid. Inaugurated by the dictator Francisco Franco in 1959, this landmark comprises a vast underground basilica and houses the mostly anonymous remains of 34,000 Spaniards who died during the civil war (1936–1939) and its repressive aftermath. Since the early 2000s, the Valley has been a political lightning rod in a country that has long struggled with how to address the legacies of its authoritarian past. Ongoing debates among politicians, scholars, and journalists have revolved around the possibility of the Valley’s ‘resignification’ …

The Readable Scriptures: Creating A Dyslexia-Friendly Book Of Mormon, Elijah Pearce

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis appears in two parts. The first is a 135-page project where I have implemented features and practices to aid the readability of the Book of Mormon for individuals with dyslexia. The second part of this thesis is an analysis where I present a brief literature review of dyslexia and my method of applying these features and practices to a section of the English Book of Mormon, namely, the twenty-two chapters that comprise 1 Nephi. This project is not intended to present a format that will aid all individuals with dyslexia, nor is this project a complete, finished work—it …

Paternal Origin Of Yi People In Southwestern China: Insights From Phylogeographics Of Founder Lineage, Shi-Jie Xie, Jia-Ni Lu, Hui Li, Xian-Peng Zhang, Lan-Hai Wei

Human Biology Open Access Pre-Prints

The Yi people in southwestern China are renowned for their unique history, social structure, and customs. However, due to extensive genetic admixture during their formative period, the early origin and evolutionary trajectory of the Yi people remain unclear. In this study, we identified four paternal founder lineages of Yi people and generated a highly revised phylogenetic tree for these four lineages with sixty-six sequences. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of four lineages within China was summarized, based on 465 individuals identified among 60,009 Chinese males. The divergence topology indicated that among all Tibeto-Burman-speaking populations, the Naxi, Bai, and Burmese populations exhibit …

Next Arrival And Destination Prediction Via Spatiotemporal Embedding With Urban Geography And Human Mobility Data, Pengjiang Li, Zaitian Wang, Xinhao Zhang, Pengfei Wang, Kunpeng Liu

Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

With the development of transportation networks, countless trajectory data are accumulated, and understanding human mobility from traffic data could be helpful for smart cities, urban computing, and urban planning. Extracting valuable insights from traffic data, such as taxi trajectories, can significantly improve residents’ daily lives. There are many studies on spatiotemporal data mining. As we know, arrival prediction or regional function detection encompasses important tasks for traffic management and urban planning. However, trajectory data are often mutilated because of personal privacy and hardware limitations, i.e., we usually can only obtain partial trajectory information. In this paper, we develop an embedding …

‘You're Panicking, I'M Panicking, Let's Do It Together!’ Special Educators' Views On Family Involvement During Covid-19, Diana L. Cruz, Tracy Gershwin, Guofeng Shen, Silvia Correa-Torres

Journal of Educational Research and Innovation

Communication and family engagement in education shifted significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This qualitative study explored these changes by conducting ten focus groups with 43 PK-12 special educators from one school district, examining their experiences with family involvement during the first two years of the pandemic. Educators employed various innovative strategies to foster communication and maintain family involvement, including using technology, conducting home visits, offering open communication channels, and creating personal connections through interactive activities. Participants noted that decreased family involvement in the first year was primarily due to technological barriers, childcare challenges, and linguistic or communication differences. The study …

Energy-Aware Clustering Using Intelligent Scheme For Heterogeneous Wireless Sensor Networks, Enaam A. Al-Hussain, Ghaida A. Al-Suhail

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Heterogeneous Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) involve nodes with varying capabilities, such as different energy levels, sensing ranges, and computational abilities, which enable them to execute different tasks professionally. Clustering techniques play a crucial role in improving energy efficiency and reliability in WSNs. The evolution of cluster based WSNs from homogeneous into heterogeneous techniques allowed the deployment of smart devices capable of performing complex operations in in diverse environments. However, the heterogeneity of nodes necessitates more sophisticated and adaptive algorithms to fully exploit these capabilities. This paper proposes a new protocol, referred to as IT2F-HLEACH, which integrates Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Logic …

Eng 5007-600 Composition Theory And Pedagogy, Rachael Ryerson

Fall 2024

No abstract provided.

Competitive Language Use: A Linguistic Analysis Of Speech And Debate, Gina Iberri-Shea

Studies in Debate and Oratory

This study explores linguistic variation in competitive debate and prepared speech. A corpus of competitive public speech was collected and the situational characteristics of two contexts were analyzed. The linguistic characteristics of texts in each category were calculated along five dimensions of variation found across texts in English, and placed among other types of texts. Results show that three of the dimensions were able to distinguish between the two registers. The results indicate a clear direction for future work and implications for English for Academic Purposes instruction.

High School Students' Mathematics Experiences And Mathematics Learner Identities In A Rural Georgia Town: A Qualitative Study Using Autophotography With Photo-Elicitation, Wesley Cooper

Dissertations

This study examines the mathematics experiences (MEs) and mathematics learner identities (MLIs) of high school students in a rural Georgia town, addressing the underrepresentation of rural perspectives in mathematics education through an asset-based lens. Using autophotography with photo-elicitation, ten participants captured images reflecting their MEs, MLIs, and recommendations for improvement. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups along with two mini-cases amplified participant voices, guided by the frameworks of Four Faces of Mathematics Learner Identity (4F), Content Learning and Identity Construction (CLIC), and Critical Rural Theory (CRuT). Findings highlight how rural students’ MEs and MLIs are shaped by both the strengths of …

Mitigating The Negative Effects Of Over And Early Exposure To Media With Joint Media Engagement: A Literature Review, Mary K. Littlepage

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

This paper examines the negative impact of over and early exposure to media on children’s developmental domains. Among other deleterious effects, early and over exposure to media has been associated with attention deficits, language delays, and interrupted social interactions. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) addresses these concerns with recommendations, discouraging the use of screens for children birth to eighteen months and recommends that children over two years old limit their viewing to one to two hours or less per day (AAP Council on Communications and Media, 2016). For children within the recommended viewing and age parameters, many studies have …

Scaffolding Learning In Science Class With Literacy Strategies, Katelyn Collins, Sue Lasky Dr.

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

The purpose of this study is to explore the efficacy of integrating literacy-based pedagogic strategies into science inquiry skills in a 6th-grade science classroom in Berea, Kentucky. This school district's student test scores are low in science, presumably tied to low informational literacy skills. This mixed-method study triangulated data from four weeks of lesson plans, two classroom observations, and four weeks of teacher analytic reflective notes. School i-Ready reading diagnostic data was also examined for pre-intervention and post-intervention conditions. Key findings of this research indicate increased student engagement and enthusiasm when practicing literacy pedagogical strategies in science class and a …

The Dual Demands Of College Student-Athletes: A Qualitative Exploration Of Contributors And Barriers To Academic And Athletic Success, Kayleigh Hart, Leilani Madrigal, Alison Ede, Janaina Fogaca

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

College student-athletes perform at high levels in school and sport. Previous studies have found academic barriers (e.g., time management) and contributors (e.g., academic center supports; Hardin & Pate, 2013), but there is a need to investigate factors that impact success for athletic and academic pursuits in tandem. In the present study 176 college student-athletes across nine institutions and 18 sports answered the following: What do you feel contributes to your success (1) in school? (2) in your sport(s)? What do you feel is a barrier to your success (3) in school? (4) in your sport(s)? Themes were categorized as intrinsic …

Sharing With Crowds: Bibliometric Insights Into The Role Of Emotions In Crowdfunding, Saima Hafeez, Mateja Drnovšek

Economic and Business Review

In this paper, we provide an overview of the existing research on emotions in crowdfunding and integrate it using a bibliometric analysis of publication data from the decade 2013–2023. Our analysis includes a citation and cocitation analysis, a productivity analysis, a co-occurrence analysis, and a topic analysis based on abstracts. We find that the Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice are the most prominent journals publishing research at the intersection of emotions and crowdfunding. The coword analysis shows that current and frequently discussed topics are related to emotions, sentiment analysis, reward-based crowdfunding, machine learning, and blockchain. Furthermore, …