Digital Commons Network^™

Examination Of The Influence Of A Standardized Law Enforcement Curriculum, Christopher E. Powell

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study examined the extent to which the standardized 2024 Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission (CJSTC) Basic Law Enforcement recruit curriculum influenced the attitudes of 33 cadets at the Broward Police Academy concerning critical policing issues. Employing a pre- and post-survey design with a convenience sample, the research specifically assessed changes in cadets' preconceived notions regarding the appropriate use of force, the perceived dangerousness of individuals experiencing mental illness, and the necessity of police discretion in community interactions. The findings revealed statistically significant shifts in two key areas following academy training: cadets demonstrated a reduced perception that police …

Unrestrained Voices: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis On Formerly Incarcerated Trans People’S Perceptions Of Safety During Incarceration, James Anthoney Crawford

Theses and Dissertations

Heightened risks of violence, discrimination, and insufficient institutional protections mark the experiences of incarcerated trans individuals. This qualitative thematic analysis investigated the perceptions of safety among formerly incarcerated trans people within U.S. correctional facilities. Using qualitative research methods, the study gathered firsthand accounts of physical and sexual assault, examined institutional responses to reported incidents, and assessed the effectiveness of the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 in addressing the unique vulnerabilities of trans inmates. Data collection involved oral history transcript analysis, which was analyzed through thematic coding to identify patterns of institutional neglect, inadequate training of correctional staff, and systemic …

Female Offenders' Perceived Needs And Assistance Received During Reintegration Into The Community, Sarah I. Bauer

Theses and Dissertations

Reentry after prison is a challenge for justice involved females, with many factors contributing towards a positive reintegration into society or negatively, which can promote recidivism. Programs and policies exist to assist female offenders with a positive re-entry experience after incarceration and are in place to affirm that this population are able to reintegrate into society successfully. However, the recidivism rate continues to trend upwards, even with these programs and policies in place. Prior literature has directly associated certain factors, such as family, housing, substance abuse and mental health been directly correlated with reentry practices. This dissertation will use a …

The Lived Experiences Of Project Rebound Students In California, Jeffrey R. Jacobs

Theses and Dissertations

As the United States attempts to address issues of prison overcrowding, recidivism, and rehabilitation, states like California have turned to higher education during and after incarceration to remedy the situation and promote successful community reentry among individuals who have served time in the nation’s prisons. People who are formerly incarcerated are often up against a myriad of obstacles once released, and programs like California State University’s Project Rebound aim to aid in this transition through a model rooted in community and campus care. Numerous bodies of research have explored the impacts of education on individuals who are actively incarcerated; however, …

Perceptions Of Maine Batterer Intervention Program Directors On Treatment Challenges, Jenna Ostrowski

Theses and Dissertations

Intimate partner violence (IPV), commonly known as domestic violence, is a widespread social issue that continues to impact many victims. To combat this problem, multiple funded resources target not only the victims’ needs, but also attempt to reduce recidivism rates for domestic violence offenders. Treatment programs for domestic violence offenders have been operational since the 1970s, with curricula directed toward changing power and control dynamics in intimate relationships. Growing research supports the idea that domestic violence offenders have more prevalent histories of childhood trauma and mental health issues, which may increase the risk of IPV perpetration. However, research also shows …

An Interpretative Phenomenological Study Of Sexual Assault Investigations In Sexual Assault Response Teams (Sarts), Caitlyn Marie Clark

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to provide further insight into sexual assault investigations and response from the lived experiences of Sexual Assault Response Team and Task Force criminal justice professionals. There has been limited research on Sexual Assault Response Teams (SARTs), Multidisciplinary Teams (MDTs), and Sexual Assault Task Force (SATF) units, specifically encompassing the lived experiences of their members. This interpretative phenomenological study sought to explore these collaborative multidisciplinary teams from the lived experiences of the criminal justice professionals who represent them and to analyze the factors of sexual assault investigations and response that these members find significant.

In this …

Law Enforcement And The Need For Mental Health Collaboration, Jacquline Gillins-Hatcher

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the ongoing challenges and the necessity of enhanced collaboration between law enforcement agencies and mental health professionals in responding to mental health crises in the United States. Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, qualitative data were collected through semistructured interviews with law enforcement officers and mental health professionals, along with an analysis of existing records and policies.

Findings highlighted that crisis intervention team training improved officers’ ability to manage crisis situations. However, barriers such as limited interagency coordination, funding constraints, leadership challenges, and systemic policy gaps continued to hinder effective collaboration. Data from this research indicated that …

Lived Experience Of Middle School Science Teachers During The Covid-19 Pandemic, David E. Abbott Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted education worldwide, compelling schools to adopt remote teaching and learning. This phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of six middle school science teachers in an Alabama school district during this period. Data were collected through interviews and reflective journals maintained for 2 weeks following the interview. The research investigated how teachers navigated shifting instruction to remote settings, engaged students, assessed and monitored their progress, and managed challenges. Guided by the technological pedagogical and content knowledge (TPACK) framework, findings revealed that teachers leveraged a combination of technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge to adapt their instruction. Despite …

Factors Contributing To Teacher Attrition From The Perspectives Of Teachers Who Left The Profession, Malik Padgett

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation examined teacher attrition, a persistent challenge in K–12 education. Nearly 20% of teachers leave by their third year, with up to 50% departing by the fifth year. High turnover disrupts learning, strains resources, and diminishes educational quality, particularly in under-resourced communities. Addressing these issues is crucial for improving retention and fostering stability.

The study explored key factors driving attrition, including inadequate compensation, excessive workload, insufficient professional development, and limited administrative support, especially in the post-COVID era. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the research highlighted the role of leadership in fostering morale and ethics rather than merely transactional …

Investigating The Impact Of Student Motivation And Self-Efficacy On Academic Performance In Advanced Placement Courses, Alicia Carroll

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed methods applied dissertation was designed to provide insight into the effects of student motivation and student self-efficacy on academic performance in Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Secondary educational institutions in the United States offer their students Advanced Placement courses, dual enrollment or dual credit courses, International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, and early college programs to encourage and promote the quest for outstanding student attainment. Although many students in the study school enroll in the Academy for Advanced Placement Studies, not all ninth through 12th graders achieve Advanced Placement credit in the Academy’s required courses.

Education has traditionally been viewed as …

A Qualitative Study For Parental Involvement In Middle School: Perspectives Of Parents And Teachers, Twana Ivory

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to examine the barriers contributing to low parental involvement in a selected middle school. Parental engagement has been widely linked to student academic success and positive behavior outcomes; however, involvement tends to decline as students enter middle school. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences and perceptions of educators and parents regarding parental involvement, identify the challenges families face, and discover opportunities to strengthen school-family collaboration.

The researcher employed a qualitative research design using a phenomenological approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven participants, including six middle school teachers and five parents. …

Exploring Teacher Self-Efficacy And Best Practices Of Teacher Preparation Programs To Teach The Science Of Reading, Tonya Robinson-Mcnair

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigated the content of teacher preparation programs to assess whether they integrate the science of reading and effectively equip English Language Arts teachers to instruct children in reading. Researchers have long examined the decline in national reading scores, identifying contributing factors such as the structure and content of teacher training programs. While many reading educators undergo formal training, these programs often lack a foundation in scientific research to support effective instructional methods. A teacher's confidence in teaching reading is influenced by both their preparation program and in-service training. However, many educators lack essential pedagogical knowledge and an understanding …

Abduction Prevention Intervention For Children With Autism: Behavioral Skills Training With In-Situ Parent-Led Training, Kelli N. Spencer

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to review the efficacy of parents of children with autism as interventionists to prevent their children’s potential abduction. Oftentimes, abduction prevention strategies are not implemented due to time, staff, and resource constraints. While there have been effective interventions conducted, many did not address the unique needs of individuals with autism or the lack of qualified interventionists. The researcher implemented a behavioral skills training model based on the previously effective abduction prevention research and integrated the in-situ component with parents as primary interventionists.

The researcher conducted a behavior skills training, the instructional portion of which included …

Perceptions Of The Role Principals Play As School Leaders: Current Charter School Perspective(S), Mary Ann Rosser

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to provide ongoing access to current information for charter school principals, charter school management organization (CMO), educational management organizations (EMO), and independent district level charter school leaders.

The researcher developed a qualitative research interview protocol. The interview protocol consisted of seven research questions, designed to elicit each participant’s perception of the key leadership elements associated with being a successful charter school principal. The researcher selected 10 charter school leaders to conduct in-depth interviews using qualitative research-gathering questions about charter school principals’ perspectives as the basis for generating research data. The researcher individually analyzed the interview …

Teachers’ Perspectives On Behavioral Classroom Expectations Of Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Jennifer E. Brewer

Theses and Dissertations

The problem addressed in this study was that adolescents with emotional and behavior disorders (EBD) were failing in general education courses. The purpose was to investigate how teachers’ perceptions and biases influenced EBD students. Participants included five teachers (two special education teachers and three general education teachers) from each of Grades 6, 7, and 8 recruited from social media. The study was guided by the case study research design, and the interview instrument was the Indepth Interview Protocol. Data analysis was guided by a coding system that facilitated searching the interview responses for themes.

Research Question 1 queried about forms …

Teacher Perception On The Implementation Of A Culturally Responsive Ela Curriculum, Erica Tate Dial

Theses and Dissertations

While the principles of culturally responsive and culturally relevant teaching hold transformative potential, they can only be fully realized if educators are genuinely equipped and empowered to implement them. This qualitative study examined teacher perceptions of an English Language Arts curriculum through the lens of culturally relevant and culturally responsive teaching. A diverse group of teachers, varying in experience, age, gender, and race, were interviewed to gather a range of perspectives on the implementation of this curriculum. The study focused on addressing the following research questions: 1. What are teachers’ perceptions of culturally responsive and culturally relevant instruction and academic …

Perspectives Of Corporate Instructional Design Experts On Effectiveness, Personal Traits And Attributes, And Technology, Thomas A. Gant

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological descriptive study explored corporate instructional design experts' perspectives on effectiveness, personal traits and attributes, and technology that enhance their expertise. Three central themes emerged: "Mastering Instructional Design: The Journey of Continuous Learning and Skill Development," highlighting the importance of mentorship, lifelong learning, and professional development; "Accessing Instructional Design Expertise Through Individual Strengths," emphasizing adaptability, problem-solving, and empathy; and "Navigating Technological Integration and Innovation in Instructional Design," showcasing the transformative role of tools such as virtual reality, learning management systems, and authoring software. Semi-structured interviews conducted via Zoom with 10 corporate instructional designers with at least 10 years …

Beyond The Brochure: Exploring The Reality Of Belonging In South Florida Private Schools, Jennifer Vigille

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to explore Black parents’ perceptions of teachers and leadership in predominantly White private schools. The research drew on a rich body of literature on race, education, and social dynamics in diverse school settings. The study addressed the ongoing challenges Black families faced in navigating these environments, particularly in terms of communication and cultural competence. The central research questions investigated how Black parents experienced and interpreted teacher and leadership relationships and support in predominately White private schools.

The study hypothesized that Black parents perceived significant gaps in communication and cultural competence among educators and leaders, affecting …

Using Appreciative Inquiry To Strengthen Rpp, Maia Elkana, Victoria L. May

Institute for School Partnership: Research & Publications

Research-Practice Partnerships (RPPs) offer a model for mutually beneficial learning and capacity building across disciplines and contexts. Bringing together professionals with different skills and areas of expertise can foster innovation with the goal of creating equitable transformation and improvement. Within these partnerships, individuals often need to approach the work with a different set of skills and mindsets than they might otherwise draw from in their regular roles as researchers, teachers, administrators, or policymakers. Several resources have examined the kind of personal capacities needed for working collaboratively across disciplines and considered the complex ways in which context, systems, and structures external …

Representing Childhood: Abstraction And Aesthetics Of Simplicity In Ezra Jack Keats's The Snowy Day, Elle Propp

Scripps Senior Theses

The central question driving this project is not “Is The Snowy Day art?”—a question that risks reifying the very hierarchies this thesis seeks to trouble—but rather: What might it mean to treat this picturebook as an art historical object? What must be addressed in the discipline’s practices, priorities, and self-conceptions to engage such work with rigor and care? How can we analyze the picturebook as an art object?

The P3 Event-Related Potential (Erp) In Visual And Auditory Tasks: Implications For Executive Functioning In Adhd Preadolescent Children, Alex Visal Seng

Open Access Master's Theses

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a widespread psychological disorder in children, poorly impacting executive functioning domains of inhibitory control and working memory. Event-related potentials (ERPs) provide neuroelectric insight into these cognitive processes. However, most ERP research focuses on one task type, limiting direct comparisons of cognitive demands across different task paradigms. This study examined P3 amplitude and latency in ADHD children using a visual NoGo task (response inhibition) and an auditory oddball task (working memory), and associations between the P3 ERP and behavioral measures of executive functions.

Cross-sectional data of symptomatic ADHD children (N=13; F=5; aged 9.15 ± 1.86 years) were …

My Grandpa: How One Man Changed Our Life, Jada Shavers

Scripps Senior Theses

My thesis uses argumentation, personal essay, letters, and writing about feelings to recount stories of three generations of women (my grandmother, my mom, and myself) to ultimately explore the controversies of sexual violence. To establish this point, I use a combination of writing techniques to challenge the typical framework of a memoir and destabilize a linear retelling of events. I also complicate the narrative to allow the reader to question their own understanding of sexual violence; ultimately defining sexual violence as a loss of autonomy, a feeling that extends far beyond any single or recurring event, and something that never …

Globalization In Fashion: Organizational Strategies For Cultural Adaptation While Maintaining Core Identity, Karina Klein

Scripps Senior Theses

This thesis examines how fashion brands can effectively maintain their brand identity while expanding into international markets with diverse cultural landscapes. Addressing the fundamental tension between standardization and localization in global fashion marketing, this research investigates when brands should maintain consistent approaches versus adapting to local cultural contexts. Through a comprehensive literature review of global branding theory, historical patterns of fashion globalization, and cultural dimensions affecting fashion consumption, the study establishes foundational principles for strategic international expansion. The research presents Burberry's successful entry into the Chinese market as a case study, analyzing how the luxury brand effectively balanced standardization of …

Through Their Eyes: Investigating The Broad Autism Phenotype In Parents An Exploration In Eye Tracking During A Phonemic Restoration Paradigm In Conjunction With Social Communication Measures, Elena Esposito

Open Access Master's Theses

The Broad Autism Phenotype (BAP) refers to traits that resemble those seen in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The BAP traits are more common in first-degree relatives of individuals with ASD which suggests a potential genetic contribution to the disorder. Understanding how these traits manifest in communication remains limited. Previous research has shown differences in eye gaze patterns between children with ASD and neurotypical children. This study explored whether similar patterns exist in parents of children with autism (pASD) during a phonemic restoration task. The Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-2) and Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ) were also used in this study …

A Methodological Study: Using Eye Tracking & Comprehension Questions With L1 And L2 Spanish Readers, Julia Cerveira-Bianchi

Open Access Master's Theses

Eye tracking with a violation paradigm is an online, real-time measure, used within the field of second language acquisition to measure implicit or automatic knowledge (Godfroid, 2019). Native speakers (L1) demonstrate implicit knowledge, and second language learners (L2) exhibit various levels of developing implicit knowledge, which serves as a measure of proficiency. In a violation paradigm, L1 and L2 speakers read grammatical and ungrammatical stimuli. The eye-tracking data provides insight into participants’ sensitivity to grammatical violations. Previous studies have included comprehension questions, an offline measure, to ensure that participants read for meaning. However, eye tracking has rarely been applied to …

Risk Factors For Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Statistical And Machine Learning Perspective, Supti Biswas

Open Access Master's Theses

his study explores factors associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) through analysis of a rich dataset comprising maternal and child characteristics. The data were carefully cleaned and preprocessed to address missing values and ensure analytical consistency. Statistical analyses and advanced visualization techniques were used to uncover patterns linking ASD status with variables such as maternal age, prenatal smoking, and education level. To further assess predictive capacity and feature importance, multiple supervised machine learning algorithms - logistic regression, decision trees, random forests, and support vector machines (SVM) - were applied. ASD appears to be influenced by a complex interplay of demographic …

The Bodhi App: A Post-Trauma Self-Regulation App For People With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Liam Cannon

Open Access Master's Theses

People in the United States living with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) often experience trauma at a disproportionate rate. Due to societal and personal barriers, individuals with I/DD have problems with gaining access to therapy, thus often having to live with the negative effects of their untreated trauma. The effects of untreated trauma can cause severe impairment which affects a person’s quality of life and emotional, social, and physical development.

Post-trauma self-regulation is a way of doing activities to regulate one’s emotions to help cope with the negative effects of trauma. It has been shown as an effective method of …

From Lawns To Life: Landscaping For Biodiversity On Mason’S Island, Margit Burgess

Open Access Master's Theses

The collapse of biodiversity is an existential threat to life on Earth. Residential landscapes, dominated by open lawns maintained in turfgrass, do not support biodiversity. In the United States, turfgrass has replaced native landscapes in over 40 million acres, with 500 square miles added each year (Tallamy, 2019). Of the 78% of the U.S. land that is privately owned, approximately 135 million acres - nearly twice the size of all national parks combined - are residential (Milesi et al., 2005). With a shift in private landscape management, this land could present a largely untapped opportunity for biodiversity restoration and social …

Alterations Of Serotonin Receptor 7 Expression In The Spinal Cord In A Model Of Cerebral Palsy, Tracy Santos

Open Access Master's Theses

Cerebral palsy often results from perinatal hypoxia-ischemia and is characterized by motor and sensory dysfunction associated with altered serotonergic signaling in the spinal cord. The 5-HT₇ receptor, a G-protein-coupled receptor implicated in both motor control and nociceptive modulation, may thus play a critical role in these post-injury changes. However, the regional and developmental patterns of expression of 5-HT₇ following HI injury are not well understood.

In this study, we investigated the expression of spinal 5-HTR₇ in a neonatal rabbit model of HI injury at P1, P5, and P8 using Western blot analyses normalized to total protein. Tissue was …

Psychosocial Determinants Of Public Transportation Use Among Brazilian And American Users: An Integrated Modeling Approach, Ingrid Luiza Neto, Hartmut Günther, Bryan E. Porter, Taciano L. Milfont, Pastor Willy Gonzales Taco, Caroline Cardoso Machado

Psychology Faculty Publications

Overreliance on cars can promote individual, environmental, economic and social problems, requiring the development of measures to reduce car use and encourage the use of more sustainable transport options. Contributing to this call, here we report a cross-cultural study conducted in Brazil (n = 312) and the United States (n = 518) investigating the applicability of the model of Bamberg and Möser in predicting the use of public transport. Results indicated the model is equivalent across samples, regarding both the measures and the relations between the variables of the model. Intention strongly predicted self-reported public transport behaviour, explaining 70% of …