Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Chronic Absenteeism On Average Daily Attendance Funding In Humboldt County Elementary Schools, Corabelle A. Esmailian

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Chronic absenteeism is linked to poor academic performance and lower social-emotional skills, both of which can have long-term effects on students and their communities. The California Department of Education uses average daily attendance (ADA) to determine most of the funding that public schools receive. When a student is absent, their school loses a portion of potential funding for that day. This study explores chronic absenteeism’s impact on the funding of Humboldt County’s elementary schools with a sequential exploratory research strategy and critical systems lens. Interviews with elementary administrators were conducted using a phenomenological approach to understand how this affects their …

Sex Work And Covid-19: An Intersectional Discussion Of U.S.-Based Sex Worker Experiences During The Pandemic, Sabrina M. Grandia

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted all forms of industry, including that of sex work. Between October 2020 until November 2022, I did field research and interviews with nine U.S.-based sex workers throughout those months of the pandemic. Using a grounded theory approach, I asked open-ended questions about their entrance into the industry, business practices, and personal experiences before and during the pandemic. Their stories allow us to gain insight into the impact the pandemic had on them as individuals and their broader communities. My analysis highlights a prominent influence of anti-trafficking policy, politicization of the virus, and the impact of Black …

Elementary Teachers' Knowledge Towards Teaching Physical Education, Hannah Lee Mandy

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This study examined elementary teachers’ preparation in physical education (PE) and its impact on teaching effectiveness for students, including students with disabilities. Twenty-seven teachers completed a survey and three participated in a follow-up focus group where participants were asked to expand on previous questions. Findings revealed limited PE coursework, minimal hands-on experience and low familiarity with the California Physical Education Standards in teacher preparation programs. Additionally, only 74 percent of participants completed a PE course during their teacher preparation program and focus group participants emphasized their preparation programs focused on lesson planning rather than hands on teaching, and the programs …

Large Language Models And Identity: A Reflexive Approach, Nicholas Austin Nielsen

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This project explicates theories of identity, technology, and capitalism and uses an auto ethnographic approach in order to apply that explication at a personal level. The project responds to AI rhetoric in business and pedagogy and the instability surrounding perspectives on job security, the role of technology in Higher Education, and existential representations of the human. By deconstructing identity, ideology, cultural contexts, and technologic rhetorics, the goal is to further the scholarship surrounding Large Language Model applications in pedagogy and offer a personal, therapeutic approach to feelings of economic and existential discontent and fear experienced by students and educators regarding …

Looking At God, Looking At America: Examining The Relationship Between Beliefs About God And Support For Social Movements And Government Policies, Tess Starman Phd

Sociology: Faculty Publications

Scholars have long studied the relationship between religion and politics. This study aims to add to the conversation on this relationship by assessing a unique religiosity measure, that of beliefs about the character of God. Utilizing the 2021 Values and Beliefs of the American Public (n=1,336), this study assesses how beliefs about God independently and comparatively impact support for government policies and social movements. Results show that the belief that God is active in the world has the greatest association with policy attitudes. Further, racial identity is a significant moderator for the relationship between belief that God is active and …

The Effects Of Parenting Styles On Childhood Memories And Resilience Building, Nathaniel Paredes

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

One of the most significant agents of shaping children early in life is their parental figures. There has been extant research into parenting styles and outcomes later in life. The current study sought to understand how parenting styles can influence the formation of positive and adverse childhood experiences (PCEs and ACEs), which in turn lead to the development of resilience later in life. It was expected that participants who reported higher levels of authoritative parenting would be significantly correlated with higher levels of positive childhood experiences, and lower levels of adverse childhood experiences. Secondly, authoritarian and permissive parenting would be …

Managing Campus Dissent: An Assessment Of University Responses To Pro-Palestinian Protests, Kathryn S. Walker

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

University leaders face challenges navigating student dissent and effectively upholding free speech while encouraging students to view the world from a new perspective. Higher education institutions employ a variety of strategies to handle campus crises and mitigate negative perceptions that may arise. This qualitative research study provides insight into the crisis communication strategies employed by university administrators at ten institutions with the highest number of pro-Palestinian protest days from October 7, 2023, to May 29, 2024, through the analysis of university statements and student newspaper responses. Campus leaders found themselves in a challenging position, unable to satisfy all constituencies. Each …

The Role Of Adverse Childhood Experiences On Aggression And Substance Use In Young Adulthood, Sadie Goralski

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are widespread within the United States. More than half of the population has experienced at least one adverse event during their youth. Such experiences range from parental divorce to sexual assault. Past research has shown that adverse experiences during the formative years play a major role in the development of multiple physical and mental health issues. The current study aimed to explore the interplay among ACEs and two of these covariates: aggression and substance use. Moreover, the proposed study further investigated the development of substance use in emotionally dysregulated individuals with past adverse experiences. In doing …

Defining Knowledge Gaps In Preterm Birth Research: Can Biomarkers Fill The Gaps?, Scott M Williams, Kevin P Rosenblatt, Sandra Reznik, Dawn P Misra, Shajila Siricilla, Nardhy Gomez-Lopez, Brandie D Taylor, Kristina M Adams Waldorf, Ramkumar Menon, Prebic North America 2024

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Preterm birth (PTB) is a syndrome arising from multiple etiologies that manifest as a final common phenotype, delivery before full term. Current knowledge gaps in epidemiologic, basic science, and clinical fields have limited our understanding of this complex pregnancy syndrome. Lack of insight into the cellular and molecular pathways underlying spontaneous PTB (PTB) has thus limited effective clinical management and restricted the investigation of novel treatments or druggable targets. Here, we examine several areas of domain-driven research that may lead to a better understanding of PTB, including infection and inflammation that drive early labor, social factors and their biological consequences …

"I Feel Like People Would Look At Me Like I'M Dirty Or Like I'M A Thief:" A Qualitative Exploration Of Interpersonal And Intrapersonal Experiences That Influence Recovery Among Adults At Risk Of Opioid-Related Overdose, Hannah S Szlyk, Sara Jones, Jordan Michener, Zhuoran Zhang, Nina Kaiser, Heidi Holtz, Melody Rachel Konadu Frempong, Husain Lateef, William Hutson, Patricia Cavazos-Rehg

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVE: Due to the nature of early termination of treatment and the transient lifestyles of many people who use substances, many providers are unaware of the factors that may have contributed to their client's engagement in treatment. Treatment providers and researchers need a better understanding of intrapersonal and interpersonal factors that impact recovery from the clients' perspective. This study uses qualitative methods to explore these factors.

METHODS: Eligible participants were adults who had used opioids and/or stimulants and were receiving treatment at a consenting facility. Participants completed one-month follow-up interviews after using a mobile health intervention. Transcripts were analyzed using …