Digital Commons Network^™

Productive Discussion Across Political Differences: Understanding Students’ Experiences With Comfort And Discomfort Within Structured Discussions Of Public Policy Issues, Gregory E. Mcavoy, Paula Mcavoy, Rachel Waltz, Emily Grace

Democracy & Education

This study investigates the effectiveness of two pedagogical strategies—deliberation and debate—in fostering productive political discussions among high school students, with a focus on overcoming affective polarization. Paying attention to students’ comfort, engagement, and willingness to participate, this study employs a mixed-method approach using data from surveys, observations, and interviews with students participating in a civic immersion program in Washington, DC. Using deliberative theory and the concept of “productive classroom discussion across political differences,” the research explores the extent to how students perceive each strategy as productive, as well as their experiences of comfort and productive and unproductive discomfort. Additional attention …

Experiences Of Low-Risk, Low-Need Participants In A Gender-Neutral And Inclusive Domestic And Intimate Partner Violence Intervention Program, Kenneth W. Robison

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Traditional batterer intervention programs often prioritize male-perpetrator-female-victim models, thereby overlooking diverse relationship contexts and marginalized populations. Understanding participants’ experiences is essential for researchers, policymakers, counselor educators, and practitioners to develop alternatives to one-size-fits-all gender- specific strategies, which aligns with the call for more robust evidence-based practices. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative study, guided by van Manen’s framework, was to explore the lived experiences of low-risk, low-need participants who completed a gender-neutral and inclusive domestic and intimate partner violence intervention program. The research answered what essential themes emerged from the participants’ lived experiences. Data were collected from (n=8) participants …

Staff Education To Improve Gestational Diabetes Knowledge In Family Practice Staff, Lawretta Udogadi Aghomon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The project was a staff education program on gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) that was carried out in an outpatient primary health facility to help improve staff knowledge of GDM. GDM is a pregnancy complication where women with no history of diabetes become hyperglycemic during their gestational period. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of mothers giving birth who received a diagnosis of diabetes during pregnancy has increased in the last 10 years. Limited healthcare staff knowledge is a constraint in preventing the increase of GDM incidence. The practice-focused question was: Among healthcare staff at a …

Achievement Goals And Burnout In Pre-Health Profession Undergraduate Students, Jamie Jensen, Hunter Nelson, Grant Rousseau, Kenneth Harrington, Isaiah Aduse-Poku, Alexis Call, Tanner Brown

ScholarsArchive Data

These are survey results of BYU undergraduates who are enrolled in pre-health programs. We assessed their Achievement Goal Orientations and their feelings of Burnout.

Behavior Analysts’ Training And Practices Regarding Cultural Diversity: A Replication And Extension, Tania M. Valdez-Nuguid

Theses & Dissertations

Culturally responsive care, which involves adapting assessment and treatment methods to reflect the culture of individuals served (Sue & Torino, 2005), is crucial for client success, especially for minoritized and marginalized groups. This study replicated and extended Beaulieu et al. (2019) by surveying behavior analysts on their training, perceived competence, and practices in culturally responsive care. We extended Beaulieu et al. (2019) by including open-ended questions regarding culturally responsive practices and barriers faced in delivering culturally responsive care and offering the survey in Spanish. Participants reported feeling skilled and comfortable providing culturally responsive care, with increased training across various modalities. …

Persistent Improvement In Opioid Perceptions And Prescribing For Cancer Surgery: 5-Year Follow-Up, Brittany C. Fields, Timothy E. Newhook, Heather A. Lillemoe, Jessica E. Maxwell, Jose M. Soliz, Keyuri U. Popat, Christina L. Roland, Jean-Nicolas Vauthey, Matthew H. G. Katz, Ching-Wei D. Tzeng

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Background and Objectives

We previously reported that implementation of a department-wide opioid education program led to post-education improvements in opioid perceptions and prescription recommendations, with one-month and one-year retention. With ongoing programmatic and quality improvement efforts, we sought to re-evaluate the retention of these improvements five years after initial efforts.

Methods

Attending surgeons, clinical fellows, and advanced practice providers were surveyed five years after implementation of a comprehensive, departmental opioid reduction framework in August 2018. This framework initially consisted of dedicated opioid education sessions and retrospective assessment of prescribing practices, and subsequently expanded over time to include prospective quality improvement …

Living In Paradise? Cameroonian Women In The American Diaspora, Joseph Takougang

Journal of African Policy Studies

For decades after independence, African migration was a phenomenon that could be attributed to a patriarchal culture that encouraged male domination. Later, that traditional mindset was reinforced by a colonial system that often marginalized the role of women in many African societies. Indeed, because young men were more likely to be educated than their female counterparts under the colonial system, they were advantaged after independence to attend institutions of higher learning abroad when it became necessary to train young Africans to occupy important government and other decision-making positions in the newly independent states. Recently, however, women have become important players, …

Do I Feel Safe At School? A Study Of Student And Teacher Perceptions Of School Safety Measures, Dayton-Turner K. Billington

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

This study examined student and teacher perceptions of current school safety measures. It explored feelings of safety among high school students and their classroom teacher, focusing on their perspectives regarding school safety measures and school resource officers (SROs). Students took a survey asking their thoughts regarding current school safety measures using Likert scale questions as well as drawing a picture and writing a describing paragraph regarding their perceptions of safety. From the survey results, 11 students were selected to be a part of two separate focus group interviews. The qualitative data was analyzed using the constant comparative method, while the …

Using Video Education To Improve Patient Knowledge Of Cellular Therapy Side Effects: Cytokine Release Syndrome, Neurological Toxicities, & Prolonged Pancytopenia, Leslie Bennett

Doctoral Projects

This project evaluated the effectiveness of short educational videos on CAR T-cell therapy, cytokine release syndrome, neurological toxicities, and prolonged pancytopenia for blood cancer patients. At Stanford Health Care in California, in the ambulatory clinic of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (BMT-CT), we obtained a convenience sample of individuals with multiple myeloma or lymphoma preparing for CAR T-cell therapy. A pre-and post-questionnaire assessed the patients' knowledge of CAR T-cell therapy and its side effects. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to determine changes in knowledge. Thirteen patients enrolled, eight completed post-surveys, and four watched the videos. The median knowledge …

Institutional Betrayal And Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors: A Retrospective Examination Of Lgbtq School Experiences, Mavis L. Gallo, Mark A. Hammond, Stephanie Luther, Geovanna Rodriguez, James Sinclair, Rhonda N.T. Nese, Marielena R. Mcwhirter Boisen, Skylar Steffes, James R. Muruthi, John R. Seeley

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Extant literature has established an elevated risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB) among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ) youth when compared to their non-LGBTQ peers. Not yet studied is the impact of institutional betrayal on STB among LGBTQ youth. Institutional betrayals refers to misconduct carried out by an institution upon individuals reliant on the institution. Using retrospective data from 229 LGBTQ adults, we examined: (a) whether institutional betrayal was associated with STB among LGBTQ individuals in grades 5 through 12, (b) whether the association between institutional betrayal and STB was significant after controlling for the covariates, and …

Ableism And Museum Art Education: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study Of Museum-Based Visual Studio Art Teachers, Elizabeth W. Buck

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

All people, including individuals with disabilities, who participate in hands-on visual art can experience various benefits. However, visual studio art teachers, especially museum-based teachers, have various backgrounds that do not always include education or training in serving individuals with disabilities. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how museum-based visual studio art teachers perceived that their training and preparation informed their awareness of ableism and ability to serve students with disabilities in art museums in the New England region of the United States. Twelve museum-based, visual studio art teachers participated in this study through semi-structured interviews. Through …

Swine Solutions: Enhancing Ffa Supervised Agricultural Experience Projects, Hannah M. Daily, Dr. John Michael Mehaffey, Dr. Candis Scallan, Dr. Amy Mehaffey, Dr. Joe Mask

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) is a portion of the three-circle model of agriculture education, providing experiential learning opportunities for students. The immersion SAE encourages students to build upon foundational learning components in a real-world application. A popular area of the immersion SAE includes ownership of market swine being raised for exhibition. This study serves as a pilot mentorship program for agricultural science educators and students, creating an educational resource encouraging record-keeping techniques and skill development, leading to eventual independence from the student’s standpoint. The model for the Swine Solutions Program includes utilization of the provided handbook, completion of daily observation …

From The Classroom To The Boardroom: Reducing Teacher Turnover By Enhancing Employee Engagement, Robert Thurston Fitzgerald Britton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teacher turnover and low engagement levels present significant challenges for K-12 public schools, destabilizing academic progress and underscoring the need for educational leaders to develop sustainable strategies for teacher retention and positive work environments. The purpose of the qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore high-performing K-12 district educational leaders' strategies to enhance employee engagement and reduce turnover. The study involved six district or school-based leaders, all with over 10 years of educational experience and at least 2 years in leadership roles. The study was grounded in the self-determination theory and focused on autonomy, competence, and relatedness in influencing teacher engagement …

School Nurses' Role In Creating A Culture Of Preparation For Cardiac Emergencies, Dena L. Hinkle, Marisa A. Dressler, Katherine M. Miller, Shannon L. Beetz

Nursing Department Graduate Presentations/Conferences

Recent legislation in Illinois schools has focused on enhancing cardiac preparation in schools by establishing written emergency plans that are to be disseminated to employees within thirty days from the start of the school year. This web-based education tool was created as a centralized hub for employees to locate pertinent information regarding cardiac emergencies. The intent is to increase cardiac emergency preparedness in schools with access to evidence-based resources and content. The project began by performing a literature review to collect data on cardiac emergencies within the school, leading to the development of the web-based educational portal. The Cognitive Theory …

Benefits And Applications Of Learning With Virtual Reality, Michael W. Timm

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Education is a fundamental pillar of society. It equips students for employment and interpersonal relations. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a transformative technology in the field of education. The aim of this paper is to synthesize existing research in order to determine the benefits of utilizing virtual reality in a variety of education settings, such as K-12 classrooms, universities, and workplace training. This paper observes significant benefits of virtual reality in constructivist and experiential learning, gamified learning, and tailored practice. This analysis also finds that virtual reality is advantageous for educational accessibility, particularly for absentee students and impoverished students. …

Sun Safety In Rural Youth: Exploring Knowledge, Preferences, And Behaviors, Darya J. Khani, Haley Elliot, Tiffany Pittman, Jennifer H. Shaw

Research Day

Background:

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S., with prolonged sun exposure significantly increasing the risk. Rural youth, particularly in agricultural regions like South Georgia, experience high levels of UV exposure but may lack sufficient knowledge about sun safety. Understanding their awareness, preferences, and behaviors regarding sun protection is crucial for developing effective educational interventions.

Objective:

The primary objective is to survey students in the South Georgia community about their knowledge of sun safety prior and following a presentation on the topic of skin protection. The findings of this survey, as well as the informative presentation will …

Educating The Educators: Increased Sexuality Training For Counselor Educators, Joshua C. Taylor

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

A robust body of literature has identified the need for counselors-in-training (CITs) to receive additional training in sexuality counseling. Growing efforts to identify efficacious training strategies have also been well-documented in the literature. These suggested updates have implicitly increased the counselor educator's role in delivering strategies to promote sexual counseling competence for CITs. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of literature regarding the adequate preparation of counselor educators in providing sexuality education. This article will underscore the counselor educator’s role in facilitating competence in sexuality counseling for CITs and provide a model for infusing sexuality counseling into doctoral curriculum.

Implementation Of An Evidence-Based Hearing Education Project For Patients And Their Care Partners, Jennifer Mahoney

Doctoral Projects

Hearing loss is a significant communication issue that impacts relationships, safety, and mental and physical health. There is an increased risk of dementia as well as increased mortality associated with untreated hearing loss. Hearing aids are one of the main treatments for hearing loss, but they are frequently not used. Cognitive impairment, osteoarthritis of the hands, cost and complexity are some of the reasons that hearing aids do not get utilized. But research has shown that involving family members and care partners in trainings on how to use hearing aids may increase use of them. The goal of this project …

School Resources And Teen Suicide Risk, 1991–2016: A Longitudinal Analysis At The State Level, Megan Thiele Strong, Javier Corredor

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Purpose: Research shows that teachers’ salaries influence educational and non-educational outcomes. And still, too few studies explore whether teacher compensation patterns correlate with student mental health outcomes. This research attends to this gap and asks: at the state level, does the average K-12 teacher salary predict teen suicide risk? Design/methodology/approach: We use an original panel time-series dataset which includes average teacher salary, teen suicide rate and economic, religious and sociocultural control variables at the state level. We analyze this data using two analytical strategies. First, we build mixed models with teachers’ salaries and the covariates as fixed effects and state …

A Proposal: Gap Analysis On Novice Advanced Practice Provider Role Transition Within The Inpatient Setting, Erin Cornelius

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Background: Healthcare specialties are an integral part of patient care yet are briefly discussed throughout the academic journey of the advanced practice provider (APP). Hiring departments or facilities must provide further education on complex specialties. Due to a decline in practicing physicians, APPs will provide more patient care within specialties by 2032.

Purpose: To emphasize the importance of a high-quality onboarding program for the success of the APP, the department, and the hiring facility.

Method: Proposed data collection involves a two-part survey using the Novice Nurse Practitioner Role Transition (NNPRT) scale and an onboarding experiences survey.

Results: A literature thematic …

Pathways To Possibilities : Montessori, Re-Imagined And Expanded - For Every Path In Life, Melanie Nin

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Pathways to Possibilities explores the importance of establishing a Montessori pre-k through 8th grade school for a large population of children, highlighting the unique challenges they face in accessing an education that meets their fundamental needs. The Montessori model can be expanded to serve more children by adapting its principles to a large school structure. Incorporating Montessori design principles and learning theories will create an inclusive, supporting environment that fosters self-directed learning, creativity, and social engagement. By scaling the Montessori model, this thesis aims to create a more accessible and innovative multi-sensory environment that supports the diverse learning needs of …

Differentiated Instruction For Students With Special Needs: “How Can We Better Equip Students, School Systems, And Society For Differentiated Instruction For Students With Special Needs In Career And Technical Educational Environments?”, Mikala A. Highsmith

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

Career and Technical Education (CTE) plays a vital role in preparing students for the demands of the modern workforce by providing essential knowledge, technical skills, and industry-recognized certifications. As the number of students with disabilities, including neurodivergent learners, continues to rise, CTE programs face increasing pressure to adopt innovative, inclusive educational practices. Integrating creative teaching strategies and leveraging technology are now critical tools in addressing diverse learning needs that promote effective classroom management and enhance student engagement. Moreover, CTE programs emphasize the development of professional competencies, workforce protocols, and transferable skills that strengthen students’ employability across industries. This paper examines …

Affective Teacher Tok: A Sociomaterial Analysis Of Teachers’ Digital Literacy Practices On Social Media., Jessica Nicole Gottbrath

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mass media often depicts teachers in oversimplified terms, as heroic saviors or dangerous agents of indoctrination, flattening the complex realities of their daily work and lived experiences. This polarization contributes to the ongoing deprofessionalization of teaching, where educators’ expertise is increasingly questioned and politicized. In response to these reductive portrayals and the everyday pressures of the profession, some teachers have turned to short-form social media videos as a creative outlet to share personal and professional insights. To explore how teachers reclaim agency through their digital literacy practices, this study employs mixed-methods research to investigate how educators use networked microvideos to …

Beyond The Flames: Occupational Therapy Approaches To Address Pain Management, Mental Health, And Occupational Engagement In Burn Patients, Mackenzie Mertz

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

This capstone project centered around gaining advanced clinical skills and knowledge, advocating for occupational therapy’s role in burn rehabilitation, and creating education on topics such as pain management and mental health. This project was completed at the Medical University of South Carolina Burn Center with a diverse population throughout the continuum of care and various functional and psychosocial needs. The theoretical framework supporting this project was the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and Engagement. Assessment tools included range of motion, manual muscle testing, sensation, a pain analogue scale, and the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. Clinical skills were gained throughout the …

Understanding The Need For Gender Inclusiveness: A Case Study In Kolkata, India, Nilasree Dutta

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The research focuses on examining the status of women in the selected Wards of Kolkata, India: Ward 59, 64, 65, 66, and 69. Three indicators are used to evaluate the status of women: education, nutrition, and religion. Data for this study was collected with the help of a Kolkata-based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) named Ek Tara. A complete questionnaire with open-ended and closed-ended questions was followed to conduct the survey. 353 households were interviewed to obtain the data. Several statistical analyses have been conducted using STATA software to address research hypotheses. To assess the nutritional status of women, hand grip strength …

Global Perspectives In Nursing Education: The Impact Of Study Abroad Programs On Nursing Students, Julia E. Molleston

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Studying abroad as a nursing student is an under-researched topic that has many perceived and identified beneficial outcomes for students who participate. This expanded literature review utilizes 20 studies and one literature review to explore the facets of an immersive and international study abroad program on nursing and healthcare students. There are many benefits to professional, personal, and cultural growth that come from the experience of international study abroad. Such programs have shown to positively impact students' perceptions of their own cultural competence, abilities to overcome barriers, expand their perspectives, and grow in confidence. There are also many precipitating and …

Sensory Awareness In Architectural Design And Construction: A Guide To Inclusion And Hospitality For All, Morgan Harwell

Honors Theses

Modern approaches to architectural design and construction have gravitated toward elegance, glossiness, and over exaggeration of a bright environment through materials such as marble, glass, white paint, and fluorescent lighting. While these choices can be alluring, their impact on individuals with disabilities and sensory processing disorders is typically dismissed. This study explores the intersection of architectural elements — such as lighting, noise, scent, and spatial organization — and sensory overload in disabled individuals. Through a detailed literature review, education of architectural principles, and incorporation of building techniques, this study proposes a computer-generated three-dimensional model of a shopping center. The primary …

Artificial Intelligence Through Young Eyes: A Study Of Students’ Perspectives And Experiences With Artificial Intelligence In Education, Chad Preston Salyer

Ed.D. Dissertations

Artificial intelligence was an emergent and powerful new force in education. The public release of ChatGPT 3.0 in 2022 transformed learning for many students. This phenomenological qualitative study sought to record and analyze student’s perspectives on the influence of artificial intelligence on their learning routines. This study collected data through surveys and interviews with undergraduate students, analyzing patterns of artificial intelligence usage, perceived benefits, and challenges. The findings revealed that most students used artificial intelligence as a primary learning tool and that those students viewed artificial intelligence as beneficial for personalized learning and skill development. However, concerns about over-reliance on …

Educational Empowerment: Building Connections Through Interventions, Melanie V. Partida

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This capstone project explores the intersection of substance use disorder (SUD) recovery and educational empowerment, focusing on the clients and peer supporters at Janus of Santa Cruz. The initiative developed an educational support model to enhance recovery through access to adult education, vocational training, and reliable study environments. Utilizing structured surveys, the project identified the educational barriers faced by peer supporters and clients, such as limited access to internet connectivity, mental health challenges, and a lack of awareness regarding local resources. In response, this project included the creation of a comprehensive educational resource directory and a Peer Mentorship Model, enabling …

Gonzales High School: An Effort To Educate Teens On Pedestrian And Bicycle Safety, Cesar Cisneros

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Monterey County has experienced an increase in pedestrian and bicycle safety accidents. The Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program of Monterey County has been conducting outreach and community engagement to educate the community on pedestrian and bicycle safety through distribution of educational materials and safety supplies, and collaborating with local law enforcement. Teens are at a higher risk of being victims of pedestrian accidents, including bicycle accidents, as they tend to be distracted and unaware of their surroundings, unaware of distracted and impaired drivers, and incautious when crossing the roads. This project is aimed to increase engagement of teens by implementing …