Digital Commons Network^™

Measure Theory, Probability, And The Structure Of Economic Models, Grace Etzel

Math Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Key Components Of An Effective Gifted Program, Amanda Fjeld

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This inquiry-based research project aimed to identify the essential components of an effective gifted education program. The study examined which factors of a gifted pull-out program impact student learning through identifying consistent patterns. A mixed-methods approach was used. Qualitative and quantitative data were gathered on program structures, instructional approaches, and teacher preparedness. This study gathered information from peer-reviewed articles and survey responses from four Iowa gifted educators. The results revealed that while there are consistencies across many pull-out programs, there are many different goals. Key themes that were identified in gifted programs include 21st-century skill development, project-based learning, and social-emotional …

The Impact Of Culturally Responsive And Inclusive Instructional Practices, Avril Baccam

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Culturally responsive and inclusive instructional practices are essential for supporting student engagement and participation in increasingly diverse elementary classrooms. However, some second-grade students do not experience equitable opportunities to engage in learning due to instructional practices that may not fully address cultural, linguistic, and learning differences. This inquiry-based research study aimed to examine second-grade teachers' perceptions of culturally responsive and inclusive instructional practices and their impact on student engagement and participation. The study also explored which instructional strategies teachers identify as most effective for promoting equitable engagement among diverse learners. A mixed-methods approach was utilized, including quantitative survey data and …

Schoolwide Pbis And Its Influence On Engagement And Discipline For Students With Disabilities, Morgan Peterson

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a framework adopted by schools to proactively teach and reinforce expected and prosocial student behaviors. The framework is implemented across three tiers and provides opportunities for data collection to support decision-making at each level of intervention. PBIS emphasizes clear behavioral expectations, consistent reinforcement, and systematic responses to behavior within a schoolwide system (Simonsen et al., 2022; Meyer et al., 2021). Previous research suggests that when PBIS is implemented across all three tiers, the use of exclusionary disciplinary practices decreases for all students, with particularly notable effects for students with disabilities who are supported …

Using Play-Based Learning To Support Early Academic-Related Learning Behaviors: A Case Study In An Early Childhood Classroom, Tracy Montalvo

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This inquiry-based research study examined how play-based learning supports early academic-related learning behaviors for an individual child in a preschool early childhood special education (ECSE) classroom. The purpose of this study was to understand how engagement, persistence, and problem-solving developed over time through play-based experiences and teacher facilitation. Data were collected over a four-week period using multiple tools, including structured observation checklists, frequency and duration recording sheets, anecdotal field notes, and reflective journal entries. The findings of this study suggest that play-based learning supported the development of early academic-related learning behaviors, as the child demonstrated increased engagement, improved persistence, and …

The Impact Of Structured Reflective Journaling On Self-Efficacy In Early-Career Teachers, Ashley Van Dusseldorp

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Teacher self-efficacy is a critical factor influencing instructional effectiveness, classroom management, and teacher retention, yet many educators in their first five years of teaching report low confidence in their professional abilities as they navigate the complexities of the classroom. This lack of confidence can negatively impact instructional decision-making, classroom practices, and long-term commitment to the profession. The purpose of this inquiry-based research study was to examine the impact of a structured reflective journaling intervention on the self-efficacy of new teachers with fewer than five years of teaching experience. Using a mixed-methods design, participants completed pre- and post-intervention self-efficacy surveys and …

Improving Bullying Victimization And Supports For Autistic Students, Sidney Swanson

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Bullying and peer victimization remain persistent concerns for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who experiences higher rates of peer exclusion, rejection, and social isolation than their neurotypical peers. These experiences can negatively affect school engagement, emotional well-being, peer relationships, and long-term mental health outcomes. This practitioner inquiry study examined how classroom based social emotional learning (SEL) and inclusion strategist influenced peer relationships, student belonging, and bullying related behaviors for students with autism in an elementary school setting. This study was conducted over a six-week period in one first grade general education classroom and one Strat II ID/ LD classroom …

Co-Teaching Classroom Management And Relationships: Impact On Ell Student Engagement And Achievement In 5th Grade Ela, Jesse Strong

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This study examines how co-teaching influences English Language Learner (ELL) engagement, behavior, teacher-student relationships, and academic achievement in a fifth-grade ELA classroom. As classrooms become more diverse, teachers need strategies that support language development while still holding students to grade-level expectations. Co-teaching, where a general education teacher works alongside a support teacher, allows for shared planning, instruction, and assessment to better meet student needs. The purpose of this study was to explore how different co-teaching approaches affect student engagement, confidence, classroom behavior, and learning outcomes. Data were collected through classroom observations, student work and performance data, and teacher reflections. Findings …

Oil And The Macroeconomy: A Theory Of Sticky Oil Production, Sean Mcdermott

Economics Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Precision Or Invasion? Mapping The Personalization Paradox, Shyamala N. Chalakudi, Gnana Bharathy

Journal of Applied Marketing Theory

AI-driven personalization has transformed consumer engagement, yet existing research offers no systematic way to determine when personalization shifts from helpful to intrusive. Current research and models explain privacy concerns or expectancy violations but do not measure the point at which personalization triggers user discomfort, creating the personalization paradox. This study introduces the Discomfort Threshold Assessment & Measurement (DTAM) framework, a conceptual model that identifies and evaluates this threshold by integrating Dual Process Theory, Expectation Violation Theory, and Privacy Calculus Theory. DTAM distinguishes between affective discomfort reactance and cognitive discomfort reactance and outlines how these constructs could, in future empirical studies, …

Eros, Again, Is Looking At Me Meltingly: The Role Of Vision In Archaic Lyric And Hellenistic Epigram, Ruth Patterson

Classical Studies Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Administering Election Disputes, Rebecca Green

Faculty Publications

U.S. election administration has become supercharged with controversy. A process that should be mundane—casting and counting votes—has become the target of relentless litigation, much of which ends in non-merits rulings that risk perpetuating rather than resolving public concerns. The high volume of election litigation is costly, strains election officials, and risks eroding public trust in both elections and the courts. Recognizing the need to resolve election claims fairly and efficiently, Administering Election Disputes examines administrative remedies as an under-theorized alternative to judicial resolution. Increased use of well-designed administrative election dispute resolution (AEDR) could reduce pressure on courts, deliver faster and …

The Psychology Of A Favor: Why Hidden Witness Payments Demand A New Brady Rule, Adam M. Gershowitz

Faculty Publications

Prosecutors and the police regularly pay informants and other witnesses in criminal cases. These payments can be in the form of rewards, relocation expenses, crime victims funds, and even simple cash. Although witness payments are legal, prosecutors are supposed to disclose them under the Brady doctrine because they are favorable evidence that the defense could use to impeach the witness. Yet prosecutors often fail to disclose witness payments because of communication failures with the police, poor training, excessive caseloads, and occasional ethical lapses.

This Article examines dozens of hidden witness payments that prosecutors failed to disclose. In nearly eighty percent …

Leveraging Wearables And Vehicle Technologies To Automate Injury Severity Detection, Alexander Macgregor

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Natural Language Generation In Healthcare: A Review Of Methods And Applications, Mengxian Lyu, Xiaohan Li, Ziyi Chen, Jinqian Pan, Cheng Peng, Sankalp Talankar, Yonghui Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: This study presents a systematic review of natural language generation (NLG) methods and applications in the medical domain, providing quantitative and qualitative analyses to answer four key research questions regarding methods, evaluation, applications, and challenges of NLG in healthcare.

Methods: We searched PubMed, ACM Digital Library, Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus, Embase, and ACL Anthology for NLG-related studies in healthcare from 2018 to 2024. Out of 3,988 research articles, 113 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed across data modality, model architecture, evaluation metrics, and application domain.

Results and conclusion: NLG in healthcare has grown substantially, with annual …

On The Hypostatic Structure Of The Holy Triad, Omar Fakhri

Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers

No abstract provided.

Kierkegaard On Loving As Yourself, Dar Triffon-Reshef

Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers

No abstract provided.

Performance Reviews In Project-Based Engineering Firms: Toward A More Holistic And Development-Oriented Approach, Xun He

Harrisburg University Dissertations and Theses

Performance reviews are widely used in engineering consulting firms to evaluate employee contributions and determine compensation and promotion decisions. However, research has shown that traditional review systems may overemphasize measurable technical results while overlooking collaboration, leadership, and innovation. In project-based engineering environments, where employees work across multiple teams and stakeholders, this structure may not fully reflect the nature of daily work. This qualitative phenomenological study explored how early-career engineers in project-based engineering consulting firms experienced performance review practices. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 engineers working in consulting firms. The study examined participants’ perceptions of fairness, completeness, and …

Mitochondria Dynamics In Microglia During Health, Inflammation, And Aging, Alicia Nicole Pietramale

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Microglia continually surveil the brain, allowing for rapid detection of tissue damage or infection. Microglial metabolism is linked to tissue homeostasis, yet how mitochondria are subcellularly partitioned in microglia and dynamically reorganize during surveillance, injury responses, and phagocytic engulfment in the intact brain has remained unclear. In this dissertation, I combine intravital imaging, ultrastructural analyses, and metabolic and cytoskeletal markers to investigate how mitochondrial organization relates to microglial function across health, inflammation, and aging.

I first show that microglial processes diverge in their mitochondrial content, with some containing multiple mitochondria while others are completely void. This heterogeneous partitioning is conserved …

Reimagining Legal Education: The Transformative Power Of Small-Group Instruction, Michael I. Meyerson

Articles

Legal education is failing its students. Those entering their first year of law school have greater anxiety and less developed reading and writing skills than ever before. The traditional large Socratic class, which was never the most effective teaching method, has become increasingly counterproductive.

This Article contends that small-group instruction provides the opportunity for superior teaching, especially for first-year law students. Recent scholarship in active learning, educational psychology, and students’ mental health demonstrates the limitations of the traditional large Socratic class experience. Building on that theoretical foundation and informed by sustained classroom experience, this Article argues that small-group pedagogy more …

A Medical Home: How Pediatrics Challenges Systemic Barriers Through Relationships And Time., Doris Serrano , ‘26

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

No abstract provided.

The Empty Plinth: Legacies Of Colorado Union Troops In State History Textbooks (1923-2024), Kai A. Moore

History

This research examines Colorado K-12 state history textbooks published between 1923 and 2024 to explore how the legacies of the Colorado Union troops, known both for their victory over Confederate soldiers in New Mexico and their perpetration of the Sand Creek Massacre, have changed over the course of a century. By focusing on the legacy of a specific period within one state for an extended period of time, this thesis demonstrates that state history textbooks can serve as a barometer for a state’s public memory of its own history. The combined impacts of the civilizational continuum and perspective on narratives …

Investigating Social Justice Implications Of Glyphosate Residues In Human Urine, Ananya Malhotra

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Glyphosate, the nominal active ingredient in professional-grade Roundup weed and grass killer, is the most extensively used herbicide globally and in the United States (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2020). An increasing level of concern has surfaced regarding its health consequences, particularly because of contamination of our food supplies. Recent research indicates distressing levels of detection of glyphosate in human blood and urine samples, revealing many instances of frequent human exposure (Conrad et al., 2017; Zhang et al., 2020).Most of the research about exposure is focused on agricultural workers or individuals living in close vicinity to agricultural lands.  Few …

The Radio Loophole's Expiration Date: A Historical Argument For Reform, Mark Elinski

Northwestern Journal of Technology and Intellectual Property

The Copyright Act includes a “radio loophole” that permits radio stations to broadcast songs without paying royalties to sound recording copyright owners. In recent years, critics have attacked this loophole as being fundamentally unfair, depriving artists of revenue, hampering innovation in music, and contradicting international norms. This Note argues that Congress should close the loophole for another reason: it is out of line with historical trends.

Throughout U.S. copyright law history, Congress has routinely bestowed statutory carveouts and loopholes upon commercial and nonprofit entities alike. Some apply to copyright owners, and some apply to users of copyrighted works or entities …

Und Leads Implementation Team Meeting Agenda — April 1, 2026, University Of North Dakota

LEADS Implementation Documents

Agenda for the April 1, 2026 meeting of the UND LEADS Implementation Team. The agenda includes subgroup reports, Discovery recommendation development, and discussion of matters arising related to UND LEADS implementation.

Und Leads Event Stories: Discovery, University Of North Dakota

LEADS Implementation Documents

Storytelling presentation for the DISCOVERY core value of UND LEADS, prepared for the March 2026 outreach event. The slides highlight UND stories connected to research, creative activity, scholarship, Grand Challenges, artificial intelligence, space operations, industry partnerships, Indigenous research ethics, and innovation.

Und Leads Outreach Feedback Coding Audit, University Of North Dakota

LEADS Implementation Documents

Coding audit spreadsheet for feedback collected through the UND LEADS outreach event. The file supports LEADS storytelling and implementation work by organizing feedback connected to campus engagement, outreach, and strategic plan themes.

Und Leads Outreach Event Posters, University Of North Dakota

LEADS Implementation Documents

Poster materials prepared for the March 2026 UND LEADS outreach event. The presentation supports LEADS storytelling and campus engagement by presenting visual materials connected to UND LEADS implementation and the plan’s core values.

Press Freedom As A First Amendment Paradigm, Gregory P. Magarian

Villanova Law Review (1956 - )

No abstract provided.

Using State Sentencing Enhancements To Protect Journalists From Physical Assault, Anthony L. Fargo

Villanova Law Review (1956 - )

No abstract provided.