Digital Commons Network^™

Breastfeeding Education: Improving Initiation And Duration Of Breastfeeding, Rhonda Coffey

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this research study was to examine the level of self-efficacy for new mothers attending a formal breastfeeding education compared to those that did not. Participants were asked to complete the Breast Feeding Self-Efficacy Scale - Short Form via telephone. Twenty primigravida mothers who were breastfeeding at the time of discharge agreed to participate. A Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated examining the relationship between the participant's level of self-efficacy and participation in formal breastfeeding. The Pearson correlation coefficient was positive but was not statistically significant ( r (18)= .250, p > .05) indicating no relationship between the participant's self-efficacy …

Patient Education In The Emergency Department, Bryan K. Devinney

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Patient education is a core component to the practice of nursing in many countries, including the United States. Emergency department nurses are often overwhelmed with the number of patients they must care for in short amounts of time. The patients are often in varying stages of evaluation and treatment, and the nurse may be involved in one-on-one interventions with these patients. This can leave little time for patient education, especially if the nurse does not feel like the patient education is meaningful or useful. Various factors can influence the ability and desire of the emergency department nurse to provide proper …

Perceived Vs Actual Clinical Performance Of Athletic Training Students, Joseph C. Rosauer

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Context: Research has suggested a knowledge gap exist within the healthcare community. Identifying potential knowledge gaps and the use of self-reflection can be used to decrease these gaps can affect patient outcomes. Objective: To determine if knowledge gaps do exist within athletic training student's (ATS) clinicalEducation. Design: Longitudinal non-experimental retrospective study. Subjects: 141 mid semester evaluations of sophomore ATS over a four year period. Main Outcome Measures: We assessed potential knowledge gaps of ATS in the clinical setting. We calculated the difference between a preceptor evaluation of the student and student's self-evaluation using a One-way ANOVA. We also looked to …

The Balanced Approach To Literacy Instruction In Middle Schools, Tenicia Rae Helmberger

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if the frequency in which middle school teachers implement research based literacy strategies serve as predictors of success on the English/ Language Arts portion of ISTEP+. The study looked at research based strategies in fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary. Teachers of English, Language Arts, Social Social Studies, Science, and a combination of the above subjects were surveyed. The seven questions were posed relating to the frequency of implementation per quarter. The study was split into two files, high poverty and low poverty schools. Of those teachers surveyed, teachers in low achieving, low poverty …

An Investigation Of The Relationship Between Michigan Department Of Education School Achievement Rankings And School's Percentage Of Economically Disadvantaged Students, Nicholas E. Ceglarek

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to compare the Michigan Department of Education’s (MDE) school ranking system, the Top to Bottom Ranking, to the school’s percentage of economically disadvantaged students as measured by the percentage of free and reduced-price lunch. In addition, finding that a correlation exists, the study sought to identify an alternate method of reporting school effectiveness, taking into consideration the school’s percentage of economically disadvantaged students. Utilizing the current Top to Bottom Ranking system, the Michigan Department of Education assigns an array of requirements, sanctions, and rewards, depending on where a school building ranks. This ranking …

The Education Lorenz Curve: Exploring Education And Social Mobility In A Lorenz Curve Framework, Nichole D. Alexander

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Within any society the level of social mobility, the distribution of income, and equality of opportunity work together to determine the ease with which a child born into poverty can make it to the middle class during his or her lifetime. Education plays a large part, if not the largest part, in the analysis of these areas within a given society. Therefore, an equal distribution of education among those born into all income levels is one key ingredient to ensuring that all children who are born into poverty get the same chance of succeeding in the workforce as their more …

Gardens As Educational Tools In Urban Public Schools, Michelle Diane Wheat

Theses & ETDs

Urban public school education has become increasingly decontextualized from the natural world over time. This causes a division within students that impacts how they learn, what they learn, and their mental health. Children's knowledge is increasingly devoid of environmental awareness. In addition ADHD, depression, and obesity have been linked to this separation. These problems are exacerbated by a culture of standardized tests motivated by financial concerns, and the gearing of education toward career preparation. Children learn to fear nature and reap none of the benefits that immersion in nature can foster. School gardens, especially in urban areas, can provide a …

Toward An Early Start For Head Start Children : Evidence From An Academic-Enriched Literacy Initiative, Haiyan Zhang

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The purpose of this study was to address the question of whether it is developmentally appropriate to expose preschool children to a comprehensive instructional program designed to facilitate the acquisition of early literacy skills. The primary means of addressing this question was to assess the development of emergent literacy skills in four-year-old children enrolled in a literacy-enriched Head Start program for a period of one year, as compared with those of four-year-old children who entered at age three and enrolled in the program for two years. Related questions of special interests are to what extent the three and four-year-old children …

Supporting Girls In Their Transition To Secondary Education: An Exploratory Study Of The Family, School And Community Environments Of Adolescent Girls In Gujarat, K.G. Santhya, Shireen J. Jejeebhoy, A.J. Francis Zavier, Rajib Acharya, Neeta Shah

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

Despite government commitment to universal secondary education in India, few adolescents transition to and successfully complete secondary education. In India, limited efforts have been directed at parents to promote positive attitudes toward education and school completion. Recognizing the need for identifying effective intervention strategies to engage parents and communities to promote secondary education for girls, the Population Council and partners are pilot-testing an intervention to support adolescent girls’ transition to and retention in secondary education. Located in the state of Gujarat, the intervention focuses on girls in the last year of primary school and first year of secondary school and …

A Study Of Self-Efficacy In A Group Of Hmong Refugees, Mai M. Yang

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Social cognitive theorist Albert Bandura defined resilience as the ability to organize thoughts and actions to manage prospective and unknown situations. He called it the theory of perceived self-efficacy (Bandura, 2010). The tool used to measure this construct is called the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), which assesses a broad stable sense of an individual's personal competence to efficiently deal with a variety of stressful situations. Previous research suggested that due to its positive association with mental health and well being, the GSES and theory of self-efficacy are worthy of further examination in refugees (Sulaiman-Hill and Thompson, 2011). This study examines …

The Effect Of Education On Elder Abuse, Kathleen M. Evanina

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed examine the effect of education on prevention of abuse in a long term care center. Participants in this study included direct care worker staff at a nursing home and nursing home residents.

Tackling Urban Poverty In The Secondary Learning Environment, Nina Marie Sacco

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The problem of practice examined in this dissertation in practice is that many urban schools that serve low socioeconomic communities fail to engage and, therefore, empower students to succeed. The purpose of this dissertation is to identify how urban poverty presents in secondary learning environments (i.e. high schools), to report findings on how urban poverty presents in one urban high school, and to report on an emerging model for engaging stakeholders across the boundaries of school, academy, and community to improve student success for those who attend such schools. Urban students of low socioeconomic status who attend secondary schools with …

A Whole Grain Education Program For Older Adults: Its Effectiveness On Older Adults' Knowledge And Intake Of Whole Grains And Its Implications For Use With Younger Adults, Kristin Emily Davis

Master's Theses and Capstones

The average adult in America eats less than one serving of the recommended three serving minimum of whole grains each day. Consumption of whole grains in older adults is particularly low; consumption in college students is even lower. This pilot study investigated the effectiveness of a three-session nutrition education program, entitled "Is It Whole Grain?" to improve older adults knowledge, identification and consumption of whole grains. Based on the analysis of pre- and post- intervention whole grain questionnaire responses from 157 older adults, aged 60 or older, residing in New Hampshire and Iowa, significant improvements in older adults' knowledge and …

Using Sensewear Armband And Diet Journal To Promote Adolescents' Energy Balance Knowledge And Motivation, Senlin Chen, Xihe Zhu, Gregory J. Welk, Youngwon Kim, Jungmin Lee, Nathan F. Meier

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Purpose: Educating adolescents about energy balance (EB) is essential for effective weight control. This study utilized the Sensewear (SWA) armband and a diet journal to promote adolescents' EB knowledge and motivation.

Methods: Ninety sixth graders were randomly assigned into the experimental group (n = 46) who utilized SWA and diet journal for 7 consecutive days or the control group (n = 44) who did not. Both groups were pre-and post-measured on EB knowledge, situational interest, and weight. The experimental group was tracked on motivation effort, energy expenditure (EE), and energy intake (EI).

Results: EB knowledge significantly increased and situational interest …

The Environment Of Poverty And The Limits Of Girlhood: The Struggle For The Right To An Education In North India. Gareebi Ka Mahual Aur Ladkeo Ki Hud, Imandeep Kaur Grewal

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This qualitative dissertation explored the lived worlds and educational experiences of adolescent girls living in poverty in North India. Class, caste, gender, and regionally-based inequalities result in striking disparities leading to restricted, gendered opportunities and individual freedoms. The purpose of this ethnographic study was an in-depth exploration of the lives of 20 girls living in poverty, and how their own educational futures were impacted by educational policy and practices. Illustrative case studies were used to explore the broader question of educational access. In keeping with Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the primary focus …

Instruction In Functional Assessment, Marcie Desrochers, Moira Fallon

Milne Open Textbooks

Instruction in Functional Assessment introduces learners to functional assessment (FA), which includes a variety of assessment approaches (indirect, observational, and experimental) for identifying the cause of an individual’s challenging behavior for the purpose of designing effective treatments. FA is mandated by federal law and is a recognized empirically based approach to treatment of individuals with challenging behaviors (e.g., disruptive, self-injurious, and aggressive behaviors). Instruction in FA is essential for students who will one day enter professions as educators, psychologists, social workers, counselors, or mental health professionals.

The purpose of this textbook is to provide instruction in FA skills for pre-professionals …

American Black Bear–Apiary Conflicts In Michigan, Beverly K. Mckinley, Jerrold L. Belant, Dwayne R. Etter

Human–Wildlife Interactions

American black bear (Ursus americanus) damage to apiaries can result in substantial economic loss. We used records of black–bear apiary conflicts collected by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to characterize damage in the Upper and Northern Lower peninsulas of Michigan from April 2003 to May 2011. Most conflicts occurred between May and July, and the number of conflicts decreased across years. The number of reported conflicts was directly correlated with bear population size. However, we found no positive association between numbers of reported conflicts with bear condition as indexed by winter severity and hive abundance. Intolerance toward …

Obesity Among Young American Indian Adults In North Dakota, Abby Omahen

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Obesity among American Indian young adults is a significant health problem. There is an increase in the prevalence rate of diseases associated with obesity which tend to have high medical costs and high mortality rates. Fruit and vegetable consumption, exercise, gender andEducation are factors which could affect obesity among American Indians. Therefore, the primary purpose of the current study was to determine if there was an association between certain factors (fruit and vegetable consumption, exercise, gender andEducation level) and obesity among young American Indian adults in North Dakota. The secondary purpose was to determine if there was a statistically significant …

Syrian And Palestinian Syrian Refugees In Lebanon: The Plight Of Women And Children, Lorraine Charles, Kate Denman

Journal of International Women's Studies

The humanitarian crisis resulting from the Syrian conflict is estimated to be the worst so far of this century. The recent influx of refugees has now reached a point where they are equal to one quarter of Lebanon’s population, causing evident strains on its fragile economy and social structure. Syrians in Lebanon have fled from their home to seek safety, however their vulnerability is now in question as women’s and children’s rights continue to be under threat. This paper investigates the plight of Syrian and Palestinian Syrian refugees in Lebanon with an emphasis on women and children. While there are …

Real School Gardens Program: Learning Gardens And Teacher Training To Improve Student Engagement And Academic Performance In Low-Performing Elementary Schools, Jeanne Mccarty

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

Children who grow up in poverty are less likely to graduate high school, enter college and find economic stability. REAL School Gardens believes the right educational opportunities – ones that engage and motive children to learn – can break this cycle. The REAL School Gardens Program builds learning gardens and offers teacher training to improve academic engagement and performance in low-income elementary schools. Since its launch, REAL School Gardens has partnered with 92 low-income schools, and preliminary findings show that 84% of students experiencing hands-on academic lessons in a REAL School Garden report high levels of engagement, specifically in math …

Using The Virtual World Of Second Life To Teach Cultural Competence For Health Science Professional Students., Ashley Mack 1986-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: This study provides preliminary evidence that the use of technology, particularly the virtual world of Second Life™, can break down barriers by enhancing student interest in and satisfaction with the content. Methods: A pre-conference survey was administered to students attending the University of Louisville Cultural Competency Workshop series; six questions examined students' attitudes toward the LGBT community. Two health care scenarios were presented to students attending the LGBT sessions, either the traditional workshop setting, or a virtual Second Life™ session. A post-session survey was administered to students in the LGBT breakout sessions. Results: Using Second Life™ to present the …

Analysis Of Participation In 21st Century Community Learning Center After-School Program And Student Grade Five Achievement, Willie T. Herbert

Student Work

This study explored the fifth grade achievement in reading, math, and language as measured by the California Achievement Test for students who were selected because of at-risk factors into an after-school achievement and enrichment program. Students in grades one to five attended this 21st Century Learning Center Program from one to five days per week. Means of fifth grade achievement from participants in 2008-2012 were compared to the means of students within the same school setting.

Opening Doors: Preventing Youth Homelessness Through Housing And Education Collaboration, Courtney Lauren Anderson

Seattle Journal for Social Justice

No abstract provided.

Student Debt And Declining Retirement Savings, William Elliott, Michal Grinstein-Weiss, Ilsung Nam

Center for Social Development Research

In this study, the authors use the Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) to determine whether student loan debt is associated with retirement savings. They find that the median 2009 retirement savings amount for households with no outstanding student loan debt ($55,000) is nearly twice as high as it is for households with outstanding student loan debt ($25,000). Further, multivariate statistics indicate that a household with a four-year college graduate, outstanding student loan debt, and median retirement savings ($80,983) in 2007 incurred a loss of 52% of those retirement savings in 2009 contrasted with household with a similar household with no …

Is Student Debt Compromising Homeownership As A Wealth-Building Tool?, William Elliott, Michal Grinstein-Weiss, Ilsung Nam

Center for Social Development Research

In this study, the authors use 2007–2009 Survey of Consumer Finance longitudinal data to examine if having student loans affected home equity during the Great Recession. We find that median 2009 home equity ($90,000) for households with no outstanding student loan debt is twice as high as that of households with outstanding student loan debt ($45,000). Further, multivariate statistics reveal that a household with a college graduate, median 2007 home equity, and student loan debt had $54,334 (40%) less home equity in 2009 than a household with a college graduate, median home equity, and no college debt. The main policy …

Interprofessional Teaching And Learning In Health And Social Care Professions: An Evidence-Based Proposal For Interprofessional Education, Lee Franklin Koch, Helga Horn

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Session presented on: Wednesday, July 24, 2013:

Background: Health and social care is fractured and highly specialized, frequently resulting in poor coordination of treatment, therapy and care, which in turn can negatively affect client outcomes. Interprofessional collaboration reduces these effects by improving the quality of care delivery. Interprofessional education/IPE is seen as an effective means of preparing future health and social care workers for interprofessional collaborative practice.

Research Questions: What recommendations for implementing IPE can be gleaned from the literature? How can these recommendations be applied to pre-licensure health and social care training programs at an institutional level?

Objectives: Formulate …

Supervisors Behaving Badly: Witnessing Ethical Dilemmas And What To Do About It, Andrea N. Cimino, John Rorke, Heidi Adams Rueda

Social Work Faculty Publications

The NASW Code of Ethics (1996) guides social workers’ professional conduct, but provides little instruction when one’s own supervisor behaves unethically. Using student-collected interviews, we found six typologies of supervisors behaving badly, and used descriptive qualitative analysis to outline steps taken to navigate the situation. Results hold pedagogical relevance to social work practice.

Seed For Oklahoma Kids: Experimental Test Of A Policy Innovation In A Full Population, Lisa Reyes Mason, Yunju Nam, Margaret Clancy, Michael Sherraden

Center for Social Development Research

The Center for Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis has implemented an ambitious policy demonstration: SEED for Oklahoma Kids (SEED OK). This initiative uses multiple research methods, including a scientific experiment in a full population, to test a policy innovation. The innovation is providing a Child Development Account (CDA) to all children at birth. In SEED OK, randomly selected newborn children in Oklahoma received a college savings account “seeded” with a $1,000 initial deposit, plus additional components of the SEED OK intervention. This case study describes the multiyear process of designing and implementing SEED OK and sheds light …

Suicide In Older Adults : Helping Case Managers Engage In Difficult Conversations : A Project Based Upon An Independent Investigation In Collaboration The Producer Of The Film "Talking With Dolores", Darlene O'Connor, Jennelle Liljestrand

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Suicide among older adults is an increasing mental health concern in the United States, and yet depression and other signs of suicide often go unnoticed. The film and discussion guide "Talking with Dolores" was funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to increase awareness of warnings of depression and suicide in the elderly and demonstrate ways of conversing with them about suicide. Because of their unique contact with older individuals in their own homes, geriatric case managers are positioned as a gateway to necessary psychosocial support for elders, yet may not be receiving adequate training for the initial detection …

News Capsule, Academy Of Student Pharmacists - University Of The Pacific

News Capsule

No abstract provided.