Digital Commons Network^™

Living The Balance Theory Of Wisdom With Leadership Values In Mind, Daniel J. Pesut

Biennial Convention (CONV)

In creating the Balance Theory of Wisdom, Sternberg (1) defined wisdom as the application of intelligence, creativity, and knowledge to the common good by balancing and mediating the values of self (intrapersonal), others (interpersonal), and institutional (extra-personal) interests over the long and short terms in service of adapting, shaping, and selecting environments, that is, to represent, respect, reflect, and respond in shaping the future. The functional consequences of this definition suggest that wise people have exceptional insight into human development and life matters, look for deeper meaning, tolerate ambiguity, have compassion, are other- and purpose-focused, and recognize the limits of …

Caring Science As Embodied Wisdom: Balancing Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, And Extrapersonal Factors, Sara Horton-Deutsch

Biennial Convention (CONV)

The intersection of caring science and the balance theory of wisdom reveals profound connections between therapeutic practice and theoretical frameworks of human understanding. We examine how caring science inherently encompasses explicit knowledge—systematic, teachable aspects of healthcare—and tacit knowledge—intuitive, experience-based understanding practitioners develop over time. Exploring these knowledge domains with the lens of the balance theory of wisdom aligns caring science with the theory's core principles of balancing multiple interests, adapting to environmental contexts, and pursuing the common good (1).
Practicing through the lens of caring science implicitly aligns with wisdom-based decision-making by balancing intrapersonal (self), interpersonal (others), and extrapersonal (institutional) …

Effective Digital Marketing Strategies For Small Businesses, Shannon Springob

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The inability of many small businesses to effectively use digital marketing is a critical challenge for small business owners. Small business owners who lack effective digital marketing strategies are at greater risk of facing failure. Grounded in the do-it-yourself (DIY) behavioral theory, this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was conducted to identify, analyze, and explore the effective strategies employed by small business owners in the development and implementation of effective digital marketing campaigns. The participants included six small business owners in the United States who have used DIY digital marketing strategies within their businesses. Data were collected using semistructured interviews. Thematic analysis …

Small Business Owners’ Effective Strategies For Retaining Childcare Workers In Private Daycare Centers, Velma Williams Sanders

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective retention strategies can lead to employee turnover. Private childcare business owners who struggle to improve employee retention may find their business confronting attrition as a result. Grounded in job embeddedness theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry research project was to identify and explore effective retention strategies used by private childcare business owners to reduce high employee turnover rates. The participants were eight private childcare business owners who had implemented retention strategies. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, public websites, and public documents. Through thematic analysis, five themes were identified: (a) providing competitive rewards and family support; (b) …

Factors Affecting School Readiness And Level Of Distraction Among Black Children During Virtual Learning In The United States, Imani Barnes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated an shift to mandatory virtual learning (VL) for kindergarten through grade 12 students, disrupting educational systems globally and exposing systemic inequities. Although researchers had explored health and education disparities separately, they had not adequately examined the intersection of child health, specifically body mass index (BMI) and health-affected ability, with school readiness and level of distraction in VL environments. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to examine associations between BMI, health affected ability, school readiness, and distraction levels among U.S. Black children engaged in VL in the 2020 school year, controlling for gender, age, and …

Profiles Of Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd) Using The Personality Assessment Inventory (Pai), Tailyn L. Gillette

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is often diagnosed in childhood. However, the disorder can be more complex to diagnose in adulthood as several comorbid disorders may also impact attention. Many symptoms, often prevalent in childhood, taper off in adulthood, adding to the difficulty of differential diagnosis. Clinicians must decipher symptoms of ADHD from comorbid disorders during diagnostic procedures, which can be tedious. As the requests for adult ADHD diagnoses grow, the need for more efficient diagnostic procedures seems to be ever-present. The current research utilized an exploratory two-step cluster analysis to explore subgroups that resulted from archival data of adults with ADHD. …

The Impact Of Social Factors On Vagally Mediated Parasympathetic Activity, Andrew Scot Proctor

Theses and Dissertations

Loneliness and social disconnection are recognized risk factors for morbidity and mortality, yet the psychophysiological pathways remain contested. This dissertation examines how social factors relate to vagally mediated parasympathetic activity indexed by heart rate variability (HRV) and tests whether conversational interventions with a human or a large-language-model (LLM)-based companion can acutely reduce loneliness and enhance connection. Across two university sites (BYU, UCSD), N=297 participants (18-27 years) were randomized to (a) a reciprocal self-disclosure conversation with a trained human confederate, (b) a parallel, vocalized LLM chatbot conversation, or (c) a non-social, vocal reading control. Resting HRV (RMSSD, SDNN, HF-HRV) was recorded …

Implementation And Evaluation Of A Wellness Program In A First-Year Medical Student Anatomy Course, Gina R. Lepore, Gavin Turner, Benjamin Abramoff, Daniel Depietro, Nicole Robinson

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Cadaveric dissection is a central component to anatomy education. However, for many students, dissection can be emotionally taxing, highlighting a potential area for increased support. This project evaluated the implementation of a wellness program within a dissection-based anatomy course.

Methods: Throughout a 12-week first-year medical student anatomy course, two teaching assistants (TAs) served as “Wellness TAs” and implemented a structured wellness program that included weekly office hours, supportive emails to students that addressed emotionally challenging coursework, and scheduled “wellness breakfasts/snack breaks.” An anonymous survey was distributed following the course. The survey assessed demographics, perceptions of the anatomical …

Awareness Under Anesthesia: A Scoping Review Of Risk Identification And Detection Strategies, Martin Nguyen

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

The Meaning Of Travel: An Exploration Within The ‘Baby-Boomer’ Generation, Regan Hicks, Alison Warren

School of Health Professions

This qualitative research explored the underresearched area of subjective meaning(s) of travel for U.K. baby-boomers, from an occupational perspective. Using a descriptive phenomenology, a convenience sample of eight baby-boomers was recruited using social media. Participants took part in semistructured interviews, and narratives were analysed using thematic analysis. Four themes were generated: (a) travel is important to me, (b) travel changes through time, (c) travel facilitators and barriers and (d) travel as a shared experience. Participants perceived travel as a meaningful and health-promoting occupation that represented freedom, choice, independence, connection and achievement. Greater comfort was sought with age while financial constraints …

Fostering Nursing Professional Identity Through A Comprehensive Teaching Strategy, Kathleen M. Williamson

Biennial Convention (CONV)

OBJECTIVES:

• Describe the significance of developing a strong professional identity in nursing.
• Explore methods for incorporating reflective practice as a teaching strategy to help nursing students internalize professional values.
• Integrate reflective practice to support the development of professional identity among students.

The development of a strong professional identity is crucial for nursing students as it shapes their values, behaviors, and attitudes towards patient care. This presentation will share a teaching strategy that was designed to incorporate the concept of professional identity in nursing. The strategy employed reflective practice to foster understanding of professional identity among nursing students.

This presentation will …

[Wisdom Leadership Strategies To] Represent, Reflect, Respect, And Respond: Reflective Practices In Recreating Nursing’S Global Future, Gwen Sherwood

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Applying wisdom leadership integrates principles of legacy leadership for looking forward, not backward, to influence others in developing change by catalyzing individual best while inspiring others/teams to collectively influence organizational culture (1). Wisdom leadership fulfills legacy leadership by focusing outward on others; herein lies the intersection with caring science in embodying the utmost of being human through knowing, being, and doing by serving others. Emerging from reflective practice skills reflecting on one’s purpose, values, and meaning respect both personal and professional lenses. Wisdom leaders build their legacy of what they want to be known for through awareness of intra and …

The Effects Of Applying Self-Regulated Learning Prompts On Academic Achievement In A Public Middle-School Science Classroom, Andrew Barham

Doctoral Dissertations

Student success in science courses is a critical focus for K–12 educators, particularly during the transition period of middle-school, where students face increasing academic and social demands. Self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies have been shown to enhance academic outcomes by fostering independent learning and metacognitive awareness. However, research on the implementation and effectiveness of SRL interventions in middle school science classrooms, particularly within the constraints of public school settings, remains limited.

This study investigated the effects of an SRL intervention on the academic achievement of eighth-grade students during a six-week astronomy unit. Students from a public middle school in the San …

Self-Connection As A Mediator Between Exercise And Well-Being, Lauren Esmay

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Scientists and health professionals have established the connection among physical activity and overall wellbeing. In more recent years, scholars have also researched the correlation among increased self-connection with increased overall well-being. Nevertheless, insignificant data has been gathered to investigate the impact of predictor variables upon the connection between exercise and wellbeing. This research study examined the mediating effect of self-connection among the relationship between exercise and wellbeing. The current study’s purpose was to gain better insights on how self-connection predicts a person’s physical activity, contributing to comprehensive insights how exercise habits may predict a person’s wellbeing by using a cross-sectional …

From Trauma To Triumph: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Posttraumatic Growth In Children’S Animated Films, Crystal Victoria Tasker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children’s animated films have often been analyzed for problematic depictions of gender and cultural stereotypes, but far less attention has been given to how these narratives may portray psychological adversity and transformation. This study addressed this gap by examining how posttraumatic growth (PTG) is symbolized through the narrative arcs of ten Disney films released between 2013 and 2023. The purpose of this research was to explore how these films illustrate themes of emotional transformation, utilizing a theoretical foundation based on Tedeschi and Calhoun’s PTG model, which emphasizes five domains of growth following adversity: appreciation of life, enhanced relationships, personal strength, …

Examining Job Demands And Resource Factors Impacting Job Satisfaction Amongst School Social Workers, Charmagne Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the relationship between job demands and resources and job satisfaction among school social workers in North Carolina. School social workers are vital members of the school ecosystem, supporting the development and well-being of students, families, and communities. Grounded in the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theoretical framework, the impact of years of experience, caseload size, role ambiguity, burnout, and job autonomy on job satisfaction among school social workers was examined. The current study included 92 school social workers from twelve counties in the Sandhills and Research Triangle regions of North Carolina who completed …

Brain–Computer Interface Integration In Mental Health: Clinician Perspectives On Diagnostic Efficacy And Ethical Implications, Serena D. Sanders

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study explored the integration of brain–computer interface (BCI) technology into mental health care, focusing on clinicians' perceptions, ethical concerns, and the practical challenges associated with its adoption. As technological advancements in healthcare continue to reshape clinical practices, understanding how emerging technologies like BCI can be incorporated into therapeutic settings is essential. The purpose of this research was to examine clinician perspectives on the potential benefits of and barriers to BCI and to explore the ethical implications of its use in therapy. Guided by the technology acceptance model and the ethical decision-making framework, this qualitative study utilized semi structured interviews …

Enhancing Graduate Employability Through The Role Of The School Career Center (Bursa Kerja Khusus) At Smkn 1 Bandung, Dwi Purwanto, Didik Nurhadi, Widiyanti Widiyanti

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

This study examines the role of the Bursa Kerja Khusus (BKK) in enhancing graduate employability at SMKN 1 Bandung. Using a qualitative descriptive design, data were collected through interviews with BKK staff, teachers, alumni, and industry partners, supported by observations and document analysis. The findings reveal that BKK functions as a strategic bridge between school and industry by providing digital job information services, facilitating structured recruitment processes, and maintaining strong industry partnerships. These practices effectively support graduates’ transition into the workforce. However, challenges persist, particularly related to limited soft skills and occasional mismatches between school competencies and industry demands. Supporting …

Effectiveness Of Drill And Imitation Methods In The Application Of Canon And Broken Design Techniques In Feto Hitu Dance, Kadek Paramitha Hariswari, Natalsya Vandana Sape

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

This study was motivated by the need to identify effective dance learning methods that enhance dancers’ technical and aesthetic abilities, particularly in applying canon and broken design techniques to creatively reconstructed traditional dances. The purpose of this research is to analyze the effectiveness of the drill and imitation methods in developing dancers’ ability to apply canon and broken techniques in the Feto Hitu dance. The study employed a qualitative descriptive approach using field action methods. Data were collected through observations of the training process, interviews with instructors and dancers, and video documentation at the Dance Studio of the Music Education …

A Force Of Leadership: The Ron Mclaughlin Story, Leahcim Powell

Night Flight: Online Literary Journal

This narrative explores the personal and professional evolution of Ron McLaughlin, an Army Apache helicopter mechanic whose relentless work ethic is shaped by a lifelong fear of failure. Growing up in West Palm Beach, Florida, Ron learns early that discipline–not luck–opens doors, a belief that follows him into military service, where structure and high expectations feed both his ambition and his anxiety. The story follows Ron's journey as he excels in his technical craft, while wrestling with the internal pressure to be perfect, ultimately realizing that leadership extends beyond personal achievements. A pivotal mistake made by a junior soldier under …

Development Of Contemporary Issues Related To Ellen G. White, Alberto R. Timm

Ellen White Issues Symposium

No abstract provided.

Pxj Volume 12 – Key Theme Summary And Article Index, Patient Experience Journal

Patient Experience Journal

Volume 12 of the Patient Experience Journal showcases a global dedication to advancing human experience in healthcare, illuminating both existing challenges and crucial emerging practices. The content, spanning three issues, emphasizes that improving the human experience is not a temporary initiative but rather the essential foundation for building trust, ensuring safety, facilitating healing, and sustaining organizational resilience. The overarching message of Volume 12 is that human experience is the heart of healthcare. It is actively shaped through shared purpose, design, empathy, communication, and partnership. The journal calls for a future where every voice is heard, every story matters, every …

Evaluating Fall Prevention Outcomes: Fall Rates, Staff Fall Knowledge, And Perceptions On Safety Culture, Priscilla Greco

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: The practice problem addressed in this project was the elevated fall rates on a 46-bed medical–surgical unit with a reported sentinel fall event, prompting the need to evaluate the current fall prevention program.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was: In nursing staff on a medical–surgical unit (P), how does the implementation of an evidence-based fall prevention program evaluation using AHRQ tools (I), compared with no formal program evaluation (C), influence staff knowledge, perceptions of safety culture, and fall rates (O) over 8-weeks (T)?

Evidence: Evidence supporting this project emphasized that structured staff education, strong communication, …

Social Media Use And Its Association With Eating-Related Attitudes And Behaviors In Rural University Students, Erin S. Clark

Honors College Theses

Context: Eating disorders (EDs) are psychiatric illnesses wherein atypical patterns of eating induce harmful physical and psychosocial consequences. ED rates have increased globally in recent years, jumping from an estimated 3.5% to 7.8% between 2006 and 2018. ED onset typically occurs in adolescence and early adulthood and results from complex interactions between biological, psychological, and social factors. One such social factor is social media (SM) usage.

Research Design: The present quantitative study examines how measures of SM use (including use intensity, activity, personal perceptions of SM, and initial age of introduction to SM) relate to ED risk among rural university …

How “Cooling Off” Periods Endanger The Vulnerable: A 50-State Study Of Mandatory Separation Periods In No-Fault Divorce, Melody Mostow

Northwestern Journal of Law & Social Policy

Mandatory separation periods in no-fault divorce neither advance their stated policy goals nor comport with contemporary understandings of marital dynamics, domestic abuse, or child welfare. Although mandatory separation periods are held out as tools to promote reconciliation and deter impulsive divorces, such rationales lack empirical support. Because family law in the United States is determined at the state level, this Article examines state laws that require couples to live apart in varying restrictive capacities before obtaining a no-fault divorce. To that end, this Article presents the first comprehensive 50-state study of such requirements. Research demonstrates that these laws do not …

Rocket Holler, Sarah Wofford

Staff and Faculty Scholarship

Astra-Dean decides to explore an old spaceship half-buried out in the woods. This short story was published in December 2025 as part of an anthology titled "No Mercy in This Land." Cover art by Aya Francisco.

Bridging The Rural Justice Gap: A Scalable Solution Rooted In Clinical Legal Education, Michelle Paxton

Northwestern Journal of Law & Social Policy

The rural justice gap significantly impacts child welfare legal representation, exacerbating the challenges families face when navigating juvenile courts in rural America. Attorneys in these communities frequently encounter geographic isolation, limited access to specialized training, professional burnout, and inadequate resources, all of which hinder effective advocacy for vulnerable children and families.

This article argues that clinical legal education, when paired with structured post-graduate training and multidisciplinary consultation, offers a replicable model for addressing the rural attorney shortages in juvenile court advocacy. The Nebraska Children’s Justice and Legal Advocacy Center (NCJC) illustrates how this model can be designed and scaled to …

Time Series Modeling Of Land Use And Land Cover Classification Using Remote Sensing, Ahmed A. F. Abd El Hamed, Fawzi H. Zarzoura, Mahmoud El-Mewafi

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Understanding land use / land cover changes is essential for planning sustainable development. It represents the transformation of the land due to human activities, which is related to sustainable development that aims to achieve the needs of the present generations without affecting the future. Land use / Land cover is studied in Al Alamein region, northern Egypt, with supervised classification methods using satellite images from Landsat 8 and Sentinel - 2A in 2023 and analyzes the accuracy assessment, which shows Maximum likelihood is better in both sensors achieving overall accuracy (91.80% and 91.02%) and kappa coefficient (0.814 and 0.8799). Then …

Character Of Leaders Initiative Celebrates People And Virtues, Marisa C. Atkinson

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – University of Mississippi officials are working to integrate virtues into campus life while recognizing those who personify the traits through an initiative launched this fall.

It’S Still Happening: Conversion Therapy Laws Leaving College Students And More At Risk, Emma L. Mcconnell

Honors Theses

Conversion Therapy is still legal for adults across the United States, and for minors in many states. The laws and case law facilitating or preventing this discredited practice hang in the balance of whichever direction the Federal political climate moves at any given times. Even in states where Conversion Therapy is celebrated as "banned", populations of Americans that include the uniquely vulnerable students at religious universities are still subjected to it. This exploration and policy proposal solution prompts the total ban of Conversion Therapy and explains how a true legislative movement to that aim could begin.