Digital Commons Network^™

The Current - Volume 36 Issue 1, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

How Cultural Intelligence Shapes Communication And Decision-Making In Multicultural Teams, Jonathan Freking

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

This study explores how cultural intelligence influences patterns of communication and decision-making in multicultural teams, with particular attention to behaviors such as turn-taking, conflict resolution, and feedback. Drawing on a thematic analysis of 45 peer-reviewed articles spanning foundational theories, empirical studies, and methodological approaches, this paper identifies six key themes: the evolution of the CQ construct; CQ as an adaptive communication mechanism; its role in conflict resolution; its influence on collaborative decision-making; the emergence of collective cultural intelligence; and methodological approaches for understanding CQ in context. Findings suggest that high-CQ individuals and teams demonstrate more equitable voice distribution, engage in …

The Case For Mass Media Communication Theories In The Study Of Artificial Intelligence: A Uses And Gratifications & Parasocial Interaction Theory Approach, Colin Farmer

Theses

This study analyzes communication and relationship building between textual generative Artificial Intelligence programs and their users through the lens of parasocial interactions and uses and gratifications. It measures loneliness, knowledge gaining, and task completion as the primary reasons motivating perceived relationship development with AI applications. Through a quantitative survey, it explores the connections between time spent using AI, as well as the previously mentioned factors and seeks to determine what influences a user’s perceived relationship with an AI chatbot program. Comparisons are also drawn between the relationships with AI and the user’s relationships with celebrities, further expanding the justification for …

Holding Space: An Effective Intervention For When Hope Wanes, Annette Lane, Marlette Reed, Rose Schroeder

Patient Experience Journal

Holding space is a person-centered, non-judgmental approach to working with clients. This approach goes beyond listening to client concerns; it entails deep listening and being present, developing trust with clients, and helping them connect goals with values. Within this brief account, the concept of holding space is described. What it is and is not is explained. Examples of holding space are woven throughout in order illustrate this concept. Finally, implications for professionals are provided.

Where Words Fail Music Speaks: A Qualitative Exploration Of Uses And Gratification Theory And How Music Influences College Students In Their Daily Productivity, Relationships And Self-Perception, Abagayil E. Hatt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The dissertation project explores the music consumption of college students aged 18 - 24 and its influence on them. The study focus is how music impacts daily productivity-related decisions, relationships, and self-perception. Through ZOOM interviews and personal logs, this qualitative dissertation explored the influence music has on college students aged 18 – 24. This study contributes to the field of communication by revealing how music influences young adults’ communication, decisions, and identity. This study highlights the need for a more nuanced understanding of how music shapes behavior and identity.

Improving Collaboration With Hospital Security And Nursing Staff, When Treating Patients In Acute Crisis, By Implementing A Modified Sbar Card., Yuna Choi

Doctor of Nursing Practice Papers

Inpatient psychiatric units provide assistance to patients experiencing acute mental health crises such as psychosis or suicidal ideation. Patients experiencing acute mental health crises can sometimes become agitated or aggressive towards staff, themselves, or other patients, which can pose a significant risk to everyone’s safety. The purpose of the project is to improve staff satisfaction and collaboration by standardizing the interdisciplinary communication between hospital security and nursing staff. Over a period of two weeks, the facilitator educated security and unit staff on a SBAR card during shift huddle to implement on the unit in the event of an acute mental …

Breaking Barriers, Building Realities: Designing A Pedagogically Sound Onboarding Process For Immersive Media Classroom Integration, Esperanza B. Martinez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

As immersive media technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) continue to gain traction in education, the need for a roadmap for educators to adopt these new learning technologies in a manner that enhances student learning increases. This project explores essential elements of an effective onboarding process for extended reality (XR)-enabled learning environments, focusing the recommendations for an anonymous virtual reality lab located at a public, 4-year university in Southern California. The study analyzes interviews from twelve students experiencing VR for the first time under three different onboarding contexts: no onboarding, Meta’s First Steps …

Illness Severity And Marital Communication In Young Couples: The Moderating Role Of Marital Satisfaction, Jaime Lea Dick

Theses and Dissertations

The emergence of a chronic physical illness is unexpected in emerging adulthood and is accompanied by stress. Additionally, married partners of individuals with physical illnesses are likewise affected by the new diagnosis. Marriage outcomes of couples facing chronic illnesses together vary, being sometimes positive and sometimes negative. The current study examined the relationship between the emergence of chronic physical illness in emerging adults and marital communication of both the patient and partner, with marital satisfaction as a moderator. Gender differences are also addressed. From the Couple Relationships and Transition Experiences (CREATE) study, a nationally representative dataset of newly married emerging …

Utilizing Pharmacogenomics To Improve Students' Self-Perception On The Interprofessional Competencies Of Roles And Responsibilities, And Teams And Teamwork, Amanda Brown, Moom R. Roosan, Robert Goldsteen, Scott D. Ochs, Reza Taheri

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction

Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is an emerging discipline with the potential to revolutionize personalized medicine, but its successful implementation requires interprofessional collaboration. To address this need, a virtual interprofessional education (IPE) session was designed for student pharmacists and medical students to engage in a case-based learning experience.

Objective

The primary objective was to develop and implement an IPE activity focused on a patient case requiring PGx-guided dual antiplatelet therapy and to assess students' perceptions of two Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) Version 3 Core Competencies. A secondary objective was to identify key lessons from the session.

Methods

Pharmacist and physician faculty collaboratively …

Museos Y Generación Z: El Uso De Las Nuevas Narrativas En El Paradigma Cultural Digital Actual En México Y España = Museums And Generation Z: The Use Of New Narratives In The Digital Cultural Paradigm In Mexico And Spain, Mónica Viñarás-Abad, Julio González-Liendo, Oliver Carrero-Márquez

Artículos científicos

Propósito. El objetivo principal es analizar el paradigma sociocultural actual entre jóvenes y museos a partir de las nuevas narrativas transmedia y cómo afecta en su relación con el arte en particular y la cultura en general. Como objetivos específicos, conocer la opinión de los jóvenes sobre los museos y su valoración sobre la gestión de la relación con ellos y cómo las nuevas narrativas transmedia influyen en esta relación. Metodología. Investigación descriptiva-analítica basada en la triangulación metodológica con grupos de discusión y encuestas a una muestra de 597 jóvenes de Latinoamérica (Ecuador, Perú, Colombia, Venezuela y Méjico) y España …

The Other Side Of Trusting: The Implications Of Vulnerability As A Core Component Of Organizational Relationships, Sam Dylan Strizver

Theses and Dissertations

Trusting behavior—discretionary risk-taking with another party—is the primary means of facilitating productive workplace relationships (Zand, 1979; Mayer, Davis, & Schoorman, 1995). Yet, little empirical evidence exists to explain what happens after employees engage in trusting behavior, but before outcomes materialize—otherwise termed the “vulnerability phase” (Ballinger, Schoorman, & Sharma, 2024: 2). To address this neglect, I develop a theoretical framework that positions vulnerability as a core psychological state within the trust process, shaped by trustors’ cognitive appraisals of risk severity and uncertainty. Drawing from research on stress and well-being, the framework also identifies coping as a key response to vulnerability, moderated …

Empowering Interprofessional Collaboration: Peer Teaching In Doctor Of Physical Therapy And Nursing Education, Debra Ann Beazley, Jill Foster, Samantha Elam, Stephen W. Elam

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

Purpose: This empirical study examined an interprofessional education (IPE) experience designed to develop communication and collaboration skills among Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and nursing (NSG) students at a university in Virginia. Method: Second-year DPT students acted as peer educators, teaching patient management and mobility skills to first-year nursing students, with first-year DPT students serving as standardized patients. Result: A mixed-methods analysis of surveys and reflections from 106 participants indicated generally positive perceptions of the activity, which was described as engaging, collaborative, and relevant to future practice. Second-year DPT and nursing students differed significantly in their perceptions of …

Navigating Ambiguity: An In-Depth Exploration Of Situationships In Contemporary Romantic Relationships, Shiywonee Khanalee De Jesus Delizo, Yonah Adamae Roxas Dapliyan, Hildebrand Tridant Awkit Ban-Eg, Calvine Audric Fajardo Canlas, Neil Ivan Dominguez Tong, Eliecea Red Ibarra Yusingco

DLSU Senior High School Research Congress

This qualitative study examined the phenomenon of situationships, which is defined as a romantic involvement that lacks clear commitment, boundaries, and labels. Situationships have surfaced in the context of modern dating culture with the rise of dating apps, in which people may display behaviors typical of couples but are contradictory to their traditional definitions of romantic relationships. This study explored the characteristics that define situationships, how people manage their inherent ambiguity, and why individuals prefer situationships over traditional established relationships. The data was gathered through in-depth interviews and an inductive thematic analysis of participants' experiences. The results revealed that open …

Cinematic Abuse: A Critical Analysis Of Disney’S “Happily Ever After” In The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, And The Princess And The Frog, Erin Michelle Gough

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the manner in which three animated Disney princess films cultivate stereotypes and gendered behaviors consistent with domestic violence and thereby encourages viewers to accept and tolerate abuse against women. I argue that due to the dangerous, constricting, and sexist gender roles encouraged by the Walt Disney Corporation, films prime young girls and boys to react to social situations and encounters in a way that mirror the characters’ reactions. Because of the films’ entertainment value, most of the characters’ inappropriate, stereotypical, and often violent behaviors either go unnoticed or are passively accepted. The violence does not have to …

The Colors Of Good And Evil: A Quantitative Study On The Effect Of Disney Animated Feature Films On Audience Color Association, Grace Mallory Hayes

Masters Theses

The purpose of this quantitative research study was to determine what impact Disney animated feature films have on audience color association. The problem is that Disney assigns colors to certain movie roles that are in contrast to what color theory posits or would assume. This study sought to determine if audiences that are highly saturated in Disney animated feature films receive a different message from colors than someone who does not regularly consume Disney films. This research examines the impact of Disney habitually assigning colors to characters in contrast to their traditional meaning on the emotional association of viewers through …

Strengthening Communication Between Staff And Health Providers In A Mental Health Setting, Michael Tricoli

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Communication between nursing staff and providers is essential for supporting optimum patient outcomes. Each component of the communication process needs to be clearly defined to create an environment of safety for both patients and caregivers. The SBAR (situation, background, assessment, recommendation) is a nurse-driven protocol that is widely used as a communication and documentation template in health care organizations. This format is currently not being used effectively on the mental health units where the evidence-based project was implemented. Recognizing and reiterating the value of SBAR as a communication tool is necessary when communication deficits are noted. The purpose and scope …

Improving Student Outcomes, Brenda Burton

Education Theses and Dissertations

This improvement science dissertation in practice was conducted to make an improvement in education practice to positively affect student outcomes. Plan -> Do -> Study -> Act cycles (Bryk et al., 2015) were employed to identify a specific problem of practice, determine root cause(s), advance change theory, and define potential solutions. Many stakeholders were consulted and the initial phase evaluated the existing condition. Results informed the design of an intervention which was then implemented and evaluated in a second phase. Findings showed that a novel way of communication, the introduction of video technology, was correlated with improved student perceptions, self-regulation, …

Impact Of Social Motivation And Communication On Friendship And Loneliness In Autism, Rachael Roizer

Honors Scholar Theses

Friendships and loneliness are both major contributors to happiness and life satisfaction. This study probes group differences in friendship and loneliness in autism, and their links to social motivation and social communication skills. This study includes participants with autism (n = 28), loss of autism diagnosis (n = 29), and neurotypical developmental histories (n = 36). Participants completed an online survey including measures of social motivation, social communication, friendship, and loneliness. Findings indicated group differences in social communication, friendship, and loneliness, but not social motivation. There were significant associations between social motivation and friendship, social communication and …

Speech Camp: An Action Research Approach To Transformative Presentation Skills Coaching, Sherrie Torrey

Critical and Creative Thinking Capstones Collection

This synthesis explores the evolution of Speech Camp, a participant-centered coaching program developed by the author to support individuals with presentation anxiety to increased confidence in their communication. This program, developed through iterative redesign and informed by Action Research and Action Learning, reframes presentation skills development as a relational and reflective process rather than a performance-based task. The project draws upon theoretical frameworks—including Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory, Ryan and Deci’s Self-Determination Theory, and Mezirow’s Transformative Learning Theory—to analyze the program’s current methodology and curriculum to reveal how elements of structured reflection, peer engagement, and psychological safety promote meaningful internal change. Special …

Waffles And Spaghetti: The Effects Of Cognitive Processing Methods On Team Performance And Communication, Jonah Daniel Browning

Masters Theses

The goal of this thesis is to shed light on a practical method for resolving conflicts in team environments that stem from miscommunications brought on by differing cognitive processes. Our brains use different cognitive processing techniques to make sense of and explore the vast amount of information the world presents them on a daily, even hourly basis. Each person has their own thinking style which influences how teams collaborate and problem solve. However, miscommunication can often arise when individuals fail to recognize and adapt to the varying processing methods, which can lead to frustration and inefficiency.

This research seeks to …

A Qualitative Study Of Registered Nurses’ Perceptions Of The Impact Communication Modalities Have On Patient Care Outcomes In Primary Care, Eleanor M. Chapital

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Communication plays a vital role in the provision of patient care and directly impacts patient care outcomes across the care continuum. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore and determine registered nurses’ perceptions of the communication modalities that facilitate optimum patient care outcomes in the primary care setting. Registered nurses play a critical role in the provision and coordination of patient care. Therefore, it is imperative to study their experiences and perceptions to facilitate communication within primary care teams. The central research question for this study was the following: How do registered nurses describe their use of communication …

In The 21st Century, Poor Communication Within Culturally Diverse And Integrated Ethnic Group Workforce Can Lead To Low Productivity, Resulting In Loss Of Revenue, Ihedi Adugba

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Today, business is conducted on a global scale, and consequently, culturally diverse workforces are becoming increasingly common. The continual increase in global economic integration within the workforce has given rise to a deeper knowledge of the essence of better communication with people of differing cultures and languages. Multiculturalism is made up of diverse cultural value systems. A culturally diverse workforce enhances cultural identity with individuals of different backgrounds expressing diverse points of view. Organizations tend to reach their maximum potential when the strategy of managing a culturally diverse workforce is strictly followed. Based on socio-cultural diversity, organizations can accommodate individuals …

Illuminating The Communication Analysis Of Investigative Interviews And Interrogations: An Interdisciplinary Qualitative Interpretive Meta-Synthesis, Erica N. Heller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation explores communication in investigative interviews and interrogations through a qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis (QIMS) across the three disciplines of communication, psychology, and criminal justice. This investigation was guided by two research questions: identifying communication themes in investigative contexts and examining the variations in how the disciplines approach investigative interviews and interrogations. Through the utilization of the QIMS method, this study investigated and analyzed interdisciplinary artifacts from academic and professional (gray) literature. This resulted in the discovery of two key themes, confession-focused goals and inconsistent terminology, and three sub-themes: interviewee focus, siloed mindset, and individualized methodological focus. The findings of …

Exploring Higher Education Shared Governance Constitutional Documents As Potential Culture Building Contributors To Friction Between Faculty And Administration Through A Qualitative Analysis Of Foundational Institution Documents, Lanna Monday Emmett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative research project investigates the role shared governance documents in higher education institutions play in communicating the guiding principles and expectations used to create, sustain, and challenge culture through a content analysis of foundational institutional documents. Colleges and universities face challenges driven by technology, globalization, the capitalization of education, and shifting expectations regarding diversity, equity, and sustainability. These changes require institutions to adapt their organizational models for more competitive decision-making while navigating evolving governance issues. In some instances, these changes have been cited as one cause for friction between institutional stakeholders, particularly faculty and administration. Previous studies have more …

Okinawan-American Organizational Cross-Cultural Communication Behaviors, Cara J. Barr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Existing literature relating to Okinawa is sparse and outdated. There is a crucial need to study Okinawan-American cross-cultural organizational communication behaviors, as many U.S. military members and civilians work throughout Okinawa. Additionally, Japanese-American or Eastern-to-Western-cultured communication literature fails to identify and often misinterprets communication behaviors. Current literature also fails to account for the societal and personal constructs of cross-cultural communication differences that cause misinterpretations. Utilizing sociocultural and sociopsychological traditions, the research is grounded primarily in Identity Negotiation Theory, with aspects of Expectancy Violations Theory. Using qualitative research that relied on semi-structured interviews, twenty-four participants, equal parts Okinawan and American, were …

Conveying The Need For Mental Healthcare – A Qualitative Study Of How Patients Communicate Mental Health Challenges’, Marit Nymoen, Marit Lomeland, Eva Biringer, Mirjam Extedt, Øystein Hetlevik, Rod Sheaff, Olav Thorsen, Miriam Hartveit

Peninsula Medical School

Background: Access to timely mental healthcare relies on patients’ descriptions of their mental health problems. We therefore sought to better understand, from the patients’ perspective, how they communicate their need for specialised mental healthcare to their GPs or mental health specialists and what factors affect communication when patients are referred from their GPs to specialised mental healthcare. Methods: This was an exploratory interview study. Ten adults who started treatment in specialised mental healthcare facilities were interviewed individually. The interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. A method based on thematic analysis was used to develop patterns and themes within the dataset …

Disrupting And Facilitating: The Dual Role Of Generative Ai In Reshaping Power, Engagement, And Collaboration Within Organizations, Zain Khalid Baz Haddadin

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study explores how Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is reshaping power, trust, engagement, and collaboration in communication-focused workplaces. Guided by a constructivist lens and informed by change management theory, it draws on eight semi-structured interviews and a survey of 40 professionals across agency, corporate, and academic roles. Findings reveal that GenAI does not fully flatten hierarchies, it subtly thins them, enabling junior staff to contribute to strategic conversations earlier while decision rights remain centralized. Trust is highly contextual, shaped by task sensitivity, prompt clarity, and user confidence. GenAI’s impact on engagement was mixed: some participants felt energized; others described increased …

How Can Art Therapy Be Utilized To Support Emotional Communication For Autistic Individuals With An Alexithymic Profile?, Kathryn L. Cohen

Expressive Therapies Theses

The expressive nature of art therapy can aid those with communication and sensory processing differences. Art making allows for the individual to access and emote in a way that spoken language cannot. This literature review will investigate and explore the features of the processing differences related to autism, interoception and alexithymia. The findings from the research explore the effectiveness of utilizing art therapy as a method to expand emotional communication. There are many challenges pertaining to emotional regulation and communication for autistic individuals. Accessing mental health resources and service providers familiar with communication differences is another challenge for this population. …

The Endurance Of West African Textiles Through The Ages, Sarah Isak-Goode

The Confluence

West Africans have a long history of creating distinctive textiles. Yet, they are frequently misunderstood. Though often bold, the patterns and colors used in textiles have a subtle meaning. Separately and together, many of these patterns and symbols represent an unspoken language among natives. Research from the pre-colonial era to the contemporary era has shown that these textiles have persisted because of the reverence West Africans hold for both their heritage and personal expression. Further research is recommended to gain understanding of these textiles, from both the past and the present, as well as the West Africans who have intently …

Musical Language And Communication: Students Connect Music Streams To Literacy, Mathematics, Science, And Movement, Kelly Collier

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This dissertation discusses how music and literacy claim many of the same skills, ways music may be used as a motivational tool to help promote strategies for skill development, and how teachers working in teams have the innovation to generate strategic learning. By combining music symbolism with the literacy curriculum, one can create a set of elementary school lessons that integrate musical melody with the facets of literacy, mathematics, science, and movement to formulate beneficial opportunities for student engagement and learning. Students cultivate learning by using the elements of rhythmic literacy, such as identifying beat values in conjunction with their …