Digital Commons Network^™

Analyzing The Relationship Between Diabetes Duration And Self-Management In Adults With Diabetes, Caroline Noel Stroo

Master's Theses

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease that affects 14.7% of adults in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023). Prevalence of diabetes increases with age, with rates for adults aged 65 and older reaching 29.2% (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023). Factors such as age, race, obesity, physical activity level, and genetics strongly increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, 2016). Diabetes requires complex and comprehensive management to reduce the risk of developing comorbidities (Al-Shabeeb et al., 2021). Factors such as education, familial support, …

Master Of Social Work Portfolio, Kyla Wright

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

Identifying all learned ten competencies of social work incorporated into educational settings. Utilizing theoretical practices and an integrated, justified intervention for mental health success.

Educational Lifecycle: Transitioning From Undergraduate To Graduate-Level Expectations, Khalil A. Mrabe, Rosie Defeo, Arlenys Loffredo

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

The World Health Assembly has recognized the current and future place of education, training, and development within their 2030 global strategy. While education in allied health professions continues to evolve, limited information is known about the challenges graduate students face when transitioning into these programs. In response to recent societal and educational shifts, a systematic review was conducted to explore the academic, psychological, social, and professional barriers affecting first-term allied health students. Utilizing the SPIDER framework along with searching across different platforms (Psychinfo, Web of Science, and ProQuest) to locate peer-reviewed studies published within the last five years. Forty-seven studies …

Learning To Treat The Whole Person: Assessing Spiritual Care Curriculum Inclusion At Faith And Non-Faith-Based Doctor Of Physical Therapy And Master Of Athletic Training Programs In Texas, Tricia Blalock, Heather Hudson, Andrew R. Meyer, Ryan Hebdon

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Given the identified importance of assessing the spiritual domain of health as a component of cultural competence and holistic care in physical therapy and athletic training and the importance that their governing bodies have indicated that spiritual care should play in treating patients, this current study examined how faculty, at entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and Master of Athletic Training (MAT) programs in Texas, perceive the importance and inclusion of spiritual dimensions of care in their programs. Methods: We disseminated an online, cross-sectional, mixed-methods survey to a total of 289 faculty members from a total of 27 programs …

The Influence Of Visualization Type And Gender On Multimedia Learning Performance: An Experimental Study, Ziji Wang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The widespread availability of multimedia learning resources, driven by technological progress, presents both opportunities and challenges in education. While these resources, often designed with animations to aid learning, their effectiveness in learning across STEM and non-STEM fields remains controversial. Besides, researchers have increasingly turned their attention to understanding how individual learner characteristics such as gender and spatial ability influence effectiveness of multimedia learning.

This dissertation examined the impact of visualization type and gender on learning algorithms (STEM) and Chinese characters (non-STEM) after accounting for the effect of spatial ability, focusing on learning outcomes and cognitive load. The fact that males …

Addressing Anxiety In The Pediatric Population: An Ot Perspective, Joshua D. Johnson, Mary Jan Greer, Wendy Tremaine, Justine Faghihifar

Summer 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone develops and evaluates a trauma-informed training for RBTs and caregivers in outpatient ABA clinics serving children with ASD and anxiety. Grounded in MOHO, the seven-module program teaches trigger→support mapping, sensory strategies, visual tools, and brief co-regulation routines. Findings show improved knowledge and confidence, with recommendations to embed a fidelity rubric, booster sessions, and ready-to-use templates.

Storytelling Pedagogy To Promote Musical Expression Through Community Building In The High School Ensemble Class, Hector E. Ayerdiz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite research on technical pedagogical techniques to improve musicianship in students, there are still some non-conventional pedagogical approaches that educators have not researched in detail. Among these is purposeful storytelling to develop community and vulnerability in students to enhance musical expression and technique. This study sought to understand the impact of the music teachers' use of storytelling on high school music ensemble students. It also investigated storytelling's usefulness in developing music skills and techniques in students by forming positive learning environments. Guided by narrative design, this qualitative research study looked at the phenomenon of storytelling in the high school music …

A Study Of The Impact Of The Impostor Syndrome On Women Of Color In Leadership Roles In Predominantly White Institutions, Alecia M. Ho-Sang

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the emotional, spiritual, and physical ramifications of impostor syndrome on women of color in leadership roles within predominantly white institutions using social cognitive theory. The impostor syndrome was coined in 1978 by psychologists Suzanne Inmes and Pauline Rose Clance (Clance & Imes, 1978, p. 241). It is the experience of individuals who, despite possessing the qualifications for esteemed positions, attribute their achievements to sheer luck. Benefitting from diverse social and organizational theories, including achievement goal theory and social identity theory, this study draws on social cognitive theory. It illustrates the multifaceted impact of environmental, behavioral, …

Changing Hearts And Minds: Educating Medical Students To Transform Knowledge And Attitudes Toward Organ Donation, Matilin G. Rigsby

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The national organ shortage is exacerbated by physicians who, contrary to federal mandates, do not refer patients with organ donation potential in a timely fashion. Whereas United States medical school curricula widely omit organ donation-related topics, literature demonstrates that educating future physicians significantly improves those students’ ability to understand and positively perceive donation, influencing their willingness to refer donor candidates. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine if an educational module among fourth-year medical students at Texas A&M University College of Medicine Dallas Campus affects those students’ perceived knowledge and attitudes toward organ donation. The researcher administered a …

Teacher Perspectives Of Supporting High School Students Who Are Sex Trafficked In Northeast Ohio: A Qualitative Study, Melanie Timco

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the perspectives of supporting students who are actively sex trafficked for the teachers at high schools in Northeast Ohio. The theory guiding the study was Bandura’s social cognitive theory as it applies to the formation of teacher perspectives based on cognitive, behavioral, and environmental factors. Teachers shared their perspective of supporting students who were actively sex trafficked in high school through hermeneutic phenomenology. I utilized criteria and snowball sampling of 12 high school teachers in Northeast Ohio. Open-ended surveys, interviews, and focus groups were conducted with teachers to render their …

The Indications Of The Need For Training For Biblical Worship Principles In Evangelical Churches In Texas, Carlos Benson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite numerous Evangelical churches in Texas, most churchgoers hold limited ideas about what defines worship. There is a shortage of biblically principled teaching in the Evangelical Church, particularly in the areas of First and God-honoring worship and its practices, including the Great Commission. This research primarily defines and explores the current state of worship in the Evangelical Church. This research examines how the original Adam and Eve beings, created to worship, have transformed into present-day worshipers. Today's worshipers include Sunday-only attendees, schedule-driven individuals, and spiritually drained souls, with a particular focus on those in Texas. This study will also provide …

Poverty And Education: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Qualitative Study On Student–Teacher Relationships, Anthony J. Lee Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the perception of cultivating supportive teacher-student relationships among Black students for teachers at a school district in the Northeastern United States. At this stage in the research, cultivating supportive teacher-student relationships among Black students was defined as how teachers positively relate in the classroom in ways that positively affect academic outcomes. The theory guiding this study was student involvement theory (Astin, 1984). This theory explains how students change and develop through their motivational involvement with the institution, curriculum, and social atmosphere. The central research question was: What challenges do teachers …

The Influence Of School Closing Mandates On Student Performance During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Case Study, Cody Ryan Ratliff

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this embedded single case study was to describe the lack of student needs support during the COVID-19 pandemic for parents of middle school students at a county board of education in West Virginia. (Chiwona et al., 2020; Devereux et al., 2020; Dunn et al., 2020). The theory guiding this study was Abraham Maslow’s (1943) theory on the hierarchy of needs, which demonstrated an impact on student performance. This qualitative single-case study utilized an embedded approach. The central research question this study aimed to answer was to describe how a lack of necessary resources affected students during the …

Mental Health Provider Education On The Benefits Of Telepsychiatry To Increase Knowledge And Promote Adoption To Improve Organizational Efficiency, Standards Of Care, And Revenue Generation., Jada Eugene

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The study implemented an educational intervention on the benefits of telehealth among mental health providers to improve their level of knowledge and promote technology adoption to improve organizational efficiency, revenue generation, and standards of care. The clinical question was: Among mental health providers, does an educational intervention on the benefits of telehealth, compared to no education, enhance knowledge of telepsychiatry consultations and promote adoption to improve organizational efficiency, standards of care, and revenue generation? Utilizing the Iowa Model of EBP, the researcher implemented a pilot study using the quasi-experimental design. Knowledge, telehealth usability, revenue generation, and standards of care were …

Helping Families Learn About Social Emotional Learning, Madalyn Ross

Masters Projects

Having developmentally appropriate social-emotional skills is an essential component of a growing child, yet many children lack the social-emotional skills necessary to be successful in the classroom. Families play an important role in the development of a child, but research shows that there are significant gaps in the knowledge and use of social-emotional learning (SEL) that families have. This project explores the importance of family involvement and knowledge surrounding SEL by looking at certain aspects that hinder SEL growth, such as trauma and excessive screen time, and aspects that help children excel in SEL development, such as teacher education and …

The Need For Updated Curriculum, Krahseeva N. Hugmeyer-Walsh

Masters Projects

The modern world requires a workforce equipped with diverse, adaptable skills, yet many students remain unprepared due to outdated curriculum models that no longer align with current societal and professional demands. This project explores the growing disconnect between traditional educational systems and the skills needed in today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world. Current curricula often emphasize theoretical knowledge over practical application, leaving students ill-equipped to navigate real-world challenges. This project also proposes the development of a modernized secondary-level curriculum unit that prioritizes critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, ethics, and technological literacy. The proposed unit is designed to reflect student interests, promote engagement, and …

Identifying And Examining Stressors In The Secondary And Post-Secondary Classroom, Benjamin S. Alter

All NMU Master's Theses

Students in secondary and post-secondary classrooms are openly exposed to stressors that can be considered impactful in their day-to-day lives.These stressors can be categorized as either “positive,” which serve as motivators, or “negative,” which often cause anxiety. In order to understand the stressors that students experience, students in a rural teacher education program at Northern Michigan University were asked to respond anonymously to a survey asking about stressors at the secondary and post-secondary levels. The survey was given to students enrolled in the Winter & Fall semesters of 2023, and the Winter semester of 2024. Students identified stressors from their …

Implementation Outcomes Of A Patient Decision-Aid In A Diverse Population With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus In 15 Us Rheumatology Clinics, Jasvinder A Singh, Larry R Hearld, Seth Eisen, W Winn Chatham, Sonali Narain, Narender Annapureddy, Diane L Kamen, Kimberly Trotter, Vikas Majithia, Cathy Lee Ching, Zineb Aouhab, Swamy Venuturupalli, Daniel J Wallace, Rosalind Ramsey-Goldman, Alfred Kim, Maureen Mcmahon, S Sam Lim, Kalpana Bhairavarasu, Alexa Meara, Kenneth Kalunian, T Mark Beasley

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the clinical outcomes during the implementation of a self-administered patient decision-aid (PtDA) for lupus.

Methods: We provided an effective computerized lupus PtDA in 15 rheumatology outpatient clinics 2019-2024 (including the COVID pandemic). We undertook Organizational Readiness to Implement Change Surveys (ORICs) and Team Learning and Psychological Safety Surveys (TLPSSs) at baseline. The primary study outcome objective measure, percent penetration/reach, was defined as the number of patients who viewed the lupus PtDA at the end of the study, divided by the total number of eligible patients (times 100). We used validated clinical …

Wake Up: How Application Of Garcetti To Public Educator Speech Harms Educators And Students Through The Lens Of Florida's Individual Freedom Act, Lindsay Mccarthy

St. John's Law Review

(Excerpt)

Nearly twenty of the nation’s states have enacted some kind of law that limits the teaching of controversial topics like race, gender, and politics. Within the last three years, these laws have become more commonplace as social movements like Black Lives Matter and #MeToo have brought topics like systemic racism and gender inequality to the nation’s attention. As the country becomes more polarized, state legislatures—typically conservative ones—have resorted to these censorship laws to fight back against the perceived indoctrination of children. The state that has gained the most notoriety for such laws is Florida. In 2022, Florida passed a …

The Reluctant Heroes: How To Teach Younger Generations Every-Day Heroism Through Pedagogical Imagination, Jarema Drozdowicz

Heroism Science

This article explores the notion of pedagogical imagination in the context of its practical use in teaching young learners today. The idea of imagination is being presented through the lens of the existing concepts such as ethnographic, historical, and sociological imagination introduced in the social sciences and humanities by various authors. The educational setting of today’s digitalized reality is being understood here as a sociocultural sphere where different generations clash in their diverse abilities to learn and form specific skills that might help them to cope with difficult real life situations. The process of forming heroic behavior patterns is thus …

Creative Processes In Visual Arts In Education: A Conceptual Framework, Enock Swanzy-Impraim

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The diversity and uniqueness of individuals and the multifaceted nature of creativity necessitate new models in various domains. This study reviewed previous studies and models of the creative process and presented a combined model (Swanzy-Impraim panoramic creative process model) of the creative process applicable to the visual arts in education and other artist-expressive domains. It positions the creative process in seven phases: (1) immersion, (2) problem/task identification, (3) ideation, (4) production, (5) outcome, (6) evaluation, and (7) responses. This conceptual paper explores creativity as a concept and its significance in the artists’ expressive domain, reviews and maps creative process models, …

A Sweetgrass Method Of Bullying Prevention For American Indian/Alaska Native Part 2, M. Standing Eagle Baez Ph.D., C. Allison Baez Ph.D.

Journal of Indigenous Research

Bullying is widespread in the United States. Bullying negatively impacts all youth involved, including those who are bullied, those who bully others, and those who witness bullying, known as bystanders. The Sweetgrass Method (SGM) is a culturally responsive framework that empowers Native and non-Native practitioners working with American Indian/Alaska Native clients. The method focuses on the initial dialogue of building a healthy relationship through self-reflection, communication, and continuity. The SGM looks at weaving Western and traditional approaches into a tailored approach that is culturally responsive to the individuals they serve. The SGM provides a framework by weaving the three strands: …

Groundskeeping As A Theoretical Framework: Understanding The Experiences Of An Emerging Discipline-Based Education Researcher, Christian D. Solorio, Christopher A.F. Hass, Scott V. Franklin, Mary Bridget Kustusch, Eleanor C. Sayre

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

Groundskeeping is a supportive leadership style that combines mentorship, institutional change, and leadership to support individuals at the intersection of their personal aspirations and an organization’s needs. This paper uses a theoretical framework of groundskeeping and applies it to the experiences of Robert, an Emerging Discipline-Based Education Researcher (EDBER) who wanted to do physics education research. In this instrumental case study, we explore how the environmental, human-centered, and anti-deficit philosophical principles of groundskeeping manifest in the interpersonal and structural supports that facilitated Robert’s transition into education research. We highlight how creating a new entry-point into Discipline-Based Education Research, providing professional …

An Action Research Study On Ai Video Vs. Written Feedback: Enhancing Undergraduate Academic Writing And Critical Thinking, Sandra Baroudi, Nida Mubeen, Suha Karaki

All Works

This action research explores how AI-assisted feedback formats influence students’ academic writing and critical thinking, a gap particularly relevant in the digital learning landscape. This study involved 40 undergraduate Emirati students divided into two groups, receiving either AI-generated video or written feedback across three assignments. Using a quantitative design, data were gathered using standardized critical thinking and academic writing skills rubrics. Additionally, students completed post-surveys to capture their perceptions, engagement levels and use of AI tools in the learning process. Results showed written feedback significantly improvemed critical thinking (M = 2.80, SD = 0.75) compared to video feedback (M = …

Du Rural Summit 2025: Full Conference Proceedings, 2025 Du Rural Summit

DU Rural Summit Conference Proceedings

Proceedings of the DU Rural Summit 2025, held June 27-27 in the Pueblo Convention Center. A gathering dedicated to addressing the unique opportunities and challenges facing rural schools and their communities.

Rams In Research: A Guided Journey Through The Mcnair Scholars Summer Program, Rajade M. Berry-James, Cindy Vigil

McNair Journal at VCU

This paper examines the significance of mentoring relationships in higher education, particularly for first-generation college students. Drawing on extensive literature, we highlight how effective mentorship enhances student success by fostering trust, belonging, and self-efficacy. The McNair Summer Research Program serves as a case study, featuring the collaboration between McNair Scholar Cindy Vigil and her mentor, Dr. RaJade M. Berry-James. This partnership focused on analyzing homicide rates in El Salvador, emphasizing key factors such as population, poverty, and government-negotiated truces. Through a comprehensive analysis of data from 1994 to 2019, Cindy refined existing research methodologies and gained valuable insights into the …

The Degree To Which School Principals In Ramtha District Apply Social And Psychological Principles And Their Relationship To Improving Teacher Performance, Ayat Al-Sukhny, Adnan Al-Ibrahim, Musa Abu Dalbouh

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

The study aimed to identify the degree to which principals in Ramtha District education schools practice principles of social and psychological foundations and their relationship to improving teacher performance from the teachers' perspective. A simple random sample of teachers was selected for the study. The results showed that the principals' practice of social and psychological principles in Ramtha District education schools was significantly high. The study also found that the level of improvement in teacher performance was considerably high and that there was a moderate, statistically significant positive correlation (α = 0.05) between the principals' application of these principles and …

Immersive Philosophical Thought Experiments Through Virtual Reality, Gordon Carlson Ph.D., Sammuel (Rob) Byer Ph.D.

Informatics Faculty Publications

Virtual reality (VR) is transforming higher education by providing immersive and interactive learning environments that enhance traditional pedagogical methods. While disciplines such as medicine and engineering have been early adopters of VR for skill development and simulation training, its potential in the humanities, particularly Philosophy, is only beginning to be explored. Philosophy courses often challenge students to grapple with abstract concepts and complex ethical dilemmas which can feel disconnected from real-world applications. VR offers a unique opportunity to bridge this gap by allowing students to experience these scenarios in lifelike, immersive settings. This study examines the use of VR in …

Common Sources, Perceived Communication Efficacy And Sufficiency Of Cervical Cancer Information, Education And Communication Materials For Women With Hiv/Aids In Rural Kenya, Scholastic Musakali Adeli, Elkanah Orang'o, Violet Naanyu, Ann Mwangi, Peter Itsura, Barry Rosen, Patrick Loehrer

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Introduction: Cervical cancer is the greatest cause of cancer-related death among women in Sub-Saharan Africa, with particularly high incidence and mortality rates in rural regions. In Kenya, Women with HIV/AIDS (WLHA) are at a greater risk of developing cervical cancer though screening rate remains low. Information, education and communication (IEC) materials play a crucial role in raising awareness, promoting screening, and supporting early detection and treatment; however, little is known about the accessibility, content, and perceived effectiveness of these materials from the perspective of WLHA.

Methods: The objective of this study was to determine the common sources, perceived communication efficacy …

Action Research To Explore The Use Of Augmented Reality To Support High School Students In Understanding And Creating Art Work In A Drawing Course, Alicia Joanne Cobler

Theses and Dissertations

High school students in Drawing 1 at a high school in South Carolina struggle to understand meaning or make personal connections to their own artwork. The purpose of this action research was to evaluate the implementation of immersive reality technology, specifically augmented reality (AR), in art for high school Drawing 1 students to help them understand meaning in art and create their own meaningful artwork. Creating personally meaningful symbolic works of art is one of the first Visual Art National Core Standards (National Core Visual Art Standards, 2014). Creating meaning in artwork allows students to understand society, provide an opportunity …