Digital Commons Network^™

Creating Space For The Public In Anthropology, Madison Joseph, Grace Tucker

2026 Symposium

This ongoing collaborative research project between Grace Tucker and Madison Joseph aims to evaluate an overlooked gap of knowledge and linguistic understanding concerning how anthropological findings are presented to both disciplinary experts and the general public. We will examine ways to improve public anthropology through improving our understanding of how to utilize everyday speech and specialist jargon simultaneously in the field. This project will include an extensive literature review of educational barriers and language use in anthropological research to identify solutions to remedy accessibility to, and dissemination of, these findings. We argue that museums and libraries are designed with the …

Virtualizing Practical Science Education: A Sociological Analysis Of Undergraduate Teaching And Learning, Sina J. Fakoyede, Femi E. Babalola, Oluwatoyin T. Obateru, Oluwayemisi D. Akomolafe, Deborah O. Alabi, Stella K. Ekundayo

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: The study aims to investigate the perspectives of university teachers and students on integrating practical science teaching with virtual learning in a multicultural and diverse society, specifically within the context of southwestern Nigeria.

Methods: A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving data collection from 100 university lecturers and 400 undergraduate students across 10 universities. Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with lecturers and focus group discussions with students. Quantitative data were obtained via structured questionnaires, allowing for triangulation and comprehensive analysis.

Results: Findings revealed that certain lecturers showed preferential support influenced by students’ cultural backgrounds or academic behavior during …

The Impact Of Social Demographics On The Awareness, Knowledge, And Experience Of Domestic Violence In Interpersonal Relationships Among College Students, Logan Friddle

Honors Theses

Domestic violence is a widespread social issue, affecting millions of individuals worldwide and representing one of the most common forms of violence against women (Kaur & Garg, 2008, p. 73; Bent-Goodley, 2021). This study examined how social demographic factors such as gender, race, socioeconomic status, and sexual orientation influenced awareness, knowledge, and experiences of domestic violence in interpersonal relationships among college students. A survey was distributed to students at Coastal Carolina University using Qualtrics to collect data on awareness, attitudes, and personal experiences related to domestic violence. The study explored how social identity shaped exposure to domestic violence, recognition of …

Teaching Sex Education In Mississippi: A Qualitative Study Of School Practices And Perspectives, Kathryn E. Wildman

Honors Theses

This thesis examines the implementation of sex education policy in Mississippi, a state with persistently high rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Although House Bill 999 (2011) mandates sex education in public schools, limited research has explored how this policy is enacted in practice. Drawing on qualitative interviews with high school educators, school nurses, and representatives from community-based organizations, this study investigates how sex education is delivered, how educators are prepared, and how social and institutional factors shape classroom instruction.

The findings identify four central themes: substantial variation in implementation across school districts, inconsistent and often insufficient teacher …

From Farewell To Fáilte: The Voices Of Iowa’S Irish Daughters, Katie Hermanson

History Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

Irish women’s immigration to Iowa brought rich culture and lasting impacts, despite their contributions being silenced by history. Women left Ireland for economic opportunity and education abroad to support their impoverished families. Millions emigrated between 1830 and 1915, spreading across the world. The Irish women who came to the United States encountered discrimination and cultural stereotyping as they worked in domestic service, developed religious orders, taught school, owned businesses and raised families. Women bore the burden of supporting their families in Ireland by sending remittances home and communicating between countries. Their cultural identity as exiles dwelled in guilt for leaving …

Using Human Capital To Enhance Trasport Sector Performance: A Managerial Perspectives From Transport Firms In Dar Es Salaam, Boaz Lucas Majula, Gerald Bernard Magova

Business Management Review

This study investigated the predictive relationship between human capital dimensions in enhancing transport sector performance, a managerial perspective from transport firms in Dar es Salaam. Specifically, the study examined employee education, working experience, creativity, and how each variable predicted transport sector performance. The study employed a quantitative approach, with five-point Likert scale using structured questionnaires to collect data about human capital dimensions and transport sector performance. The reliability was measured using Cronbach’s alpha and Partial Least Squares Structure Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was performed to estimate the predictive relationship between human capital drivers and transport firm’s performance. The study established the …

Homeschool Policy In Mississippi: Perceptions Of Regulations Among Parents, Alumni, And Policy Advocates, Kaley Lecroy

Honors Theses

In recent years, the growth of homeschooling and alternative education methods such as hybrid and virtual schools has reshaped educational opportunities for both parents and students. As more options become available and more parents opt for the flexibility of non-traditional school, it is imperative that we examine the educational guardrails in place for these students. Even more importantly, it is imperative that the perspectives of home educators and homeschool alumni have a place at the table when we review the regulations in place. This thesis seeks to understand the perspectives of current and former Mississippi home educators, Mississippi homeschool alumni, …

The Pebble In The Shoe, Marcos Fernandez Tous

The Cicadian

This piece offers an introspective reflection by an educator at the University of North Dakota, blending phenomenological perspectives on the nature of education with the embodied experience of participating in a sweat lodge. Framed by a meandering walk across campus, the narrative interweaves several thematic threads: the tension between clarification and explanation, the values that should guide technology education, and the role of nature with its inherent, chaotic vitality. Although the text adopts a stream‑of‑consciousness approach, it does so without leaning on the established stylistic traditions of Proust, Joyce, or Faulkner. The work is also poetic in tone, suggesting that …

Benefits Of A Teacher Created Mathematics Resource Website For Teachers And Students, Callista Hull

Honors Theses

For my Honors College capstone project, I created a math resource website for teachers and students. I chose to develop this website because often resources available for teachers to use for student support are not always linked to state standards, so developing a website with resources linked directly to state standards made sense to me. Resources are plentiful for teachers and students but they are not always exactly what teachers need because they are not directly linked to a state standard. This led me to my idea to create a resource that would be easily accessible, beneficial, and helpful to …

Unequal Paths: Experiences Navigating The U.S. Naturalization Process And The Role Of Education, Cecilia Rayburn

Honors Theses

This study examines how educational attainment shapes immigrants’ experiences with the U.S. naturalization process, with a focus on how education influences confidence, access to resources, and the ability to manage bureaucratic demands. While the legal requirements for naturalization are standardized, the ability to navigate them varies widely across individuals. Applicants’ experiences reveal that the U.S. naturalization process is often more complex and unequal than it may appear. This research was conducted through five semi-structured interviews with naturalized citizens of varying levels of higher education. These interviews explored participants’ experiences with the application process, including their preparedness, access to support systems, …

A.I. And Education: The Relationship Between Policy And A.I. Implementation In Louisiana K-12 Schools, Johnny R. Moore Jr

Honors Theses

This research focuses on A.I. policies in Louisiana K-12 education, trying to figure out what the best possible policies would be to ensure that students are using A.I. as a tool rather than a crutch to rely on. This goes through the history and background of technology implementation and educational policies in Louisiana. The research focuses on current A.I. policies in the state, if any, and then evaluates other states policies around the country. Teachers and administrators from around the state were surveyed on this and were also asked on their opinions on A.I. in the classroom.

Determinants Of Successful Completion In The Rowan-Virtua Dual Cprs/Chw Program: Literature Review & A Work In Progress, Timothy Breiner, Donato F. Tassoni, Richard Jermyn, Venkat Venkataraman, Alexander Abbott, Kenneth Stagliano

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Certified Peer Recovery Specialists (CPRS) and Community Health Workers (CHWs) expand access to behavioral health and social care through training, credentialing, and community-based support. Although these programs improve knowledge, skills, and workforce readiness, retention and completion remain important barriers to program scale-up. Evidence on predictors of successful completion in dual-role CPRS/CHW pathways is limited.

Objective: To identify participant, programmatic, and contextual factors associated with successful completion of the Rowan-Virtua Dual CPRS/CHW Program.

Methods: This work-in-progress combines a focused literature review with ongoing program analysis. The review examined English-language studies from 2010 onward related to CPRS and CHW training, program …

In School Age Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Does Academic Achievement And Social Development Improve In Inclusive Classroom Environments?, Ashley A. Macquaid

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder characterized by difficulties in social skills, communication, and sensory processing 1. ASD affects approximately 1 in 100 children internationally 2. With the growing prevalence, classroom inclusivity of individuals with autism has emerged as a priority in education. However, current literature presents a range of positive and negative factors without clear indication of effective classroom placement for students' specific needs. This research aims to determine if inclusive classroom environments improve academic achievement and social development for school-age children with ASD. A systematic search on PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases yielded studies published between …

The Implementation Of A Validated Csec Screening Tool For Youth Age 11 - 17 In A Pediatric Emergency Room, Julie Clark, Josie Doss Phd, Rnc-Ob, Afn-C, Sane-A, Krystal Canady Dnp, Msn, Aprn, Fnp-C, Yameika Head Md, Faap

The Corinthian

Abstract

Youth are a vulnerable population due to their age, developmental level, and dependability on others. Child abuse is a public health issue that addresses a broad range of inflicted harm ranging from neglect to physical and sexual maltreatment. A severe form of child sexual abuse is the Commercial Exploitation of Children (CSEC), also known as Child Sex Trafficking (CST), and Human Minor Sex Trafficking (HMST). For purposes of this paper, CSEC is used for CSEC, CST, and HMST. Commercial sexual exploitation of children includes sexual crimes involving children and adolescents for gain. Due to the child being less than …

Education’S Role In Indian Democracy, Kiranjot K. Atwal

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

What impact do higher levels of education have on support for democracy in India? Existing research has largely demonstrated that education can foster democratic values through increased political awareness and civic involvement; however, researchers have only just begun to explore how education contributes to developing democracies, where social and political contexts may influence the formation of attitudes in distinct ways. This gap creates a question as to whether or not the positive impacts of education on democratic support hold true across diverse populations. I argue education promotes democratic governance by serving as a catalyst for increased engagement and interaction between …

Teaching And Technology: Diagnostic Abilities Of Chatgpt For English Article Usage Errors In Turkish Esl University Students’ Academic Writing, Daniela Hong

Senior Honors Theses

This study examines how the large language model (LLM) ChatGPT can support teachers of Turkish learners of English as a Second Language (ESL) in addressing one of the most persistent cross-linguistic challenges in academic writing: the misuse of the definite article “the.” Because Turkish lacks a grammatical article system entirely, Turkish learners frequently omit or misapply the definite article in ways that reflect deeper structural differences between English and Turkish rather than simple errors. Writing samples were elicited from two proficiency levels of English in Turkish university English courses and analyzed through ChatGPT to determine whether AI could accurately diagnose …

The Importance Of Enhancing Heart’S Servitude In Raising Children, Alaa Abdullah Ajaj

UB Journal for Humanities

This study, entitled “The Importance of Enhancing Heart’s Servitude in Raising Children” addresses the significance and necessity of fostering the servitude of the heart in the upbringing of children. It aims to highlight the evidences supporting this concept from the Qur’an and the Sunnah, as well as to identify the means that facilitate its development and the consequences of neglecting it in the educational process. The researcher adopts an inductive, analytical, and inferential methodology. The study is structured into an introduction and four main sections: (1) the importance of childhood as a stage for instilling creed, (2) the …

Reimagining Masculinities Through Australian Indigenous Pedagogies, Ben Campbell, Anna Rumjahn

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

In the face of intersecting ecological crises and persistent gender inequality, this paper explores how dominant norms of masculinity—marked by control, detachment, conquest, and other ideals rooted in Western, hegemonic paradigms—contribute to environmental degradation. Drawing on ecofeminist theory, Australian Indigenous pedagogies, and contemplative education, we examine how relational, place-based approaches may offer transformative alternatives for boys in schooling contexts. Central to this inquiry is the Learning from Country framework, which positions land as teacher and emphasizes practices of deep listening, reciprocity, and ethical engagement with the more-than-human world.

We argue that this pedagogical approach challenges dominant masculinities by fostering care …

From Promise To Practice: An Analysis Of The De Jure-De Facto Gap In The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, Alyssa S. Piccoli

Honors Scholar Theses

Children with disabilities face educational disparities in the United States despite the existence of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which was enacted by the U.S. Congress to ensure a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for such children. As promises of protection are overshadowed by discrepancies in access, quality, and consistency across school districts (Seligman 2005), this paper examines the legal factors that aggravate the paradox between de jure educational rights and their de facto fulfillment for children with autism. To better understand how these challenges manifest in the legal arena, I analyze twenty-four legal cases and seventy claims …

Research Nexus : Volume 37 – 2026, Office Of Research And Graduate Studies

Office of Research and Graduate Studies Archives

• Researcher Spotlight
• Research Milestones & News
• Capacity Building Initiatives
• A New Addition to the Team
• NIH Updates and Other Resources
• Explore New Funding Opportunities

The Effect Of Stress Hormones On Memory Formation And Academic Performance, Emma L. Hooks

Senior Honors Theses

With chronic stress becoming increasingly prevalent in academic settings, researchers have identified significant effects on learning and academic performance. Cortisol, a glucocorticoid hormone, is released following the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and plays a vital role in the stress response. Although acute increases in cortisol can improve attention and memory, sustained activation of the stress response can impair memory, executive functioning, and academic performance. This thesis draws on neuroscience, psychology, and education research to examine how chronic cortisol exposure affects the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, and how the effects manifest in learning and academic performance, particularly in developmental …

It Takes A Village: Studying The Impact Of Community And Government Involvement On Elementary Schools, Claire Elizabeth Mitchell

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

This thesis examines the critical role of community involvement in shaping the success and development of K–12 education in the United States. The study highlights how shifts in societal structure have redefined the purpose and function of education. Central to this transformation is the concept of community, broadly defined as the network of individuals, organizations, and governing bodies that contribute to and sustain educational institutions.

The research explores how both local community engagement and government support influence school performance, student outcomes, and overall educational quality. Drawing on existing literature and case-based evidence, the thesis argues that schools embedded within strong, …

Curriculum Evaluation For Imagiedu, Madison Leigh Marchand

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

This research examines whether or not ImagiEdu's curriculum aligns with the Indiana Academic Standards for K-8 Computer Science, and to determine if it meets the requirements to be approved as "High-Quality Curricular Materials" by the Indiana Department of Education (DOE). ImagiEdu is an award-winning technology education startup from Sweden, and provides inclusive coding education tools designed to help students imagine their future in the tech world. In this project, the DOE's 2024-2025 High-Quality Curricular Materials Rubric was used to evaluate ImagiEdu's curriculum, including its Scope and Sequence, Teacher Handbook, and over 25 Lesson Plans. The evaluation focused on four main …

Illuminating Success: Student And Teacher Perception On Media Center Brainlit Lighting, Jase M. H. Ide

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Lighting plays a critical role in shaping learning environments, yet its influence on students’ cognitive, emotional, and physiological functioning is often overlooked in educational research. This study examined the perceived impact of BrainLit’s biocentric lighting, a daylight-simulating system designed to support circadian rhythms, within an educational setting. The research focused on Sycamore School, the first early childhood through eighth-grade school in the United States to implement BrainLit biocentric lighting. Using a qualitative research design, data were collected through interviews with third- and eighth-grade students and faculty members in the school’s Media Center. Transcribed interviews were analyzed thematically to identify patterns …

Exploring Student Feelings, Knowledge Related To Menstruation And Menstrual Education: A Cross-Sectional Survey, Ella A. Handel

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Menstrual, reproductive, and sexual health education in the United States remains inconsistent in both content and delivery. This inconsistency often leaves adolescents underprepared for developmental milestones such as menarche and contributes to ongoing stigma and discomfort surrounding menstruation. This study examined participants’ feelings and perceptions related to menstruation and menstrual education. Using a cross-sectional descriptive survey design, a mixed-methods approach was employed to collect data from 29 college students aged 18 to 19 years at a large public university in Arkansas. Quantitative data from Likert-scale items were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative open-ended responses were reviewed and organized into …

Improving Learning Habits In High School Ela, Alexander Sinn

Masters Projects

Students lack the habits and skills to process and apply what they have learned. In their secondary education, they are not developing the traits that help them succeed in college courses. Students are not explicitly taught note-taking and other study skills needed to succeed in core academic areas, English Language Arts (ELA) in particular. To address the needs of students, curriculum must incorporate expectations for students in self-efficacy and self-regulatory areas of learning. In the secondary ELA classroom, students should be provided opportunities and experiences to develop good habits. These should be requirements of 9th and 10th grade curriculum. The …

Addressing Postsecondary Lack Of Preparedness Through Exposure And Empowerment, Deztiny A. Ochoa

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Too many high school students are not college or career ready when they graduate. At Learning For Life Charter School, the school counselor and the intern worked together to implement a project to address the issue. The community served was 7th graders to 12th graders. A lot of these students were on the verge of dropping out or completely dropped out of traditional school. The capstone project consisted of taking 10 students on a field trip to a community college nearby. The purpose of this trip was to give students the opportunity to see their options after high school and …

Effects Of Access And Equity In Resources Allocation On Marginalized Elementary School Students., Giovanni Alcaraz

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The purpose of this capstone is to examine the effects of access and equity in resource allocations on marginalized students. Given the struggles students face when they lack the same resources as other students, this study discusses how this impacts students' learning and education, and how it would benefit them if they had greater access to resources. Through a literature review and a case study, the findings revealed that students with fewer resources are more likely to drop out of college or university, and they are mostly from poor communities because they lack sufficient resources to support themselves. However, the …

Effects Of Culturally (Queer) Responsive Teaching On Lgbtq+ Students, Samantha L. Alonso

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) has been thoroughly researched, and its effects have been well documented. However, when responding to Cultural diversity within the classroom, most researchers and educators focus on racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse cultures. Despite this, CRT has proven its effectiveness for all students, and can be adapted for any minority culture. This study aims to explore the effectiveness of CRT for Queer students. As well as, the barriers, limitations, and hesitations in regards to its implementation. Using surveys conducted on students and educators alike, insights are provided in regards to student experiences and educators perspectives. Additionally, a …

Impact Of Dual Immersion Program On The Academic Achievement Of Elementary School Students, Juliana G. Carreto

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This study examines the impact of the dual immersion program on the academic achievement of elementary school students in reading, mathematics, and Spanish. Through literature reviews, classroom observations, and interviews with teachers and a principal, the results indicate that students in the dual immersion program do well and often outperform those in the traditional program. Besides student engagement and interest in learning, students in the dual immersion program gain problem-solving, memory, and critical thinking skills, as well as proficiency in both English and Spanish, despite their initial struggles in the 90/10 model. As a result, the dual immersion program positively …