Digital Commons Network^™

The Relationship Between School Climate And Academics, Discipline, And Attendance At Rural Midwest Middle Schools, Hannah Pagel

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

School climate is a necessary aspect of school improvement. There are many different areas of school climate, making it challenging for schools to focus improvement efforts. Previous research identifies safety and relationships as being two of the main components of school climate. These two components relate to student grades, behavior, and attendance. Framed by Bronfenbrenner and Cole’s (1979) social-ecological perspective, Plutchik and Kellerman’s (1980) emotion theory, Bandura’s (1977) social learning theory, and Maslow’s (1943) needs theory, this research study examined school climate and student success in a middle school setting. For this quantitative study, data from the 2025 Minnesota Student …

The Relationship Between Principals' Servant Leadership And The Retention Of Mid-To-Late-Career Elementary Teachers In Minnesota Public Schools, Teresa Widen

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Teacher attrition, particularly among experienced educators, significantly impacts school stability and student outcomes. This quantitative study examined the relationship between mid-to-late-career elementary teachers’ perceptions of their principals’ servant leadership behaviors and their own retention decisions within Minnesota public schools. Grounded in servant leadership theory, the research also explored whether perceptions of leadership varied significantly based on teacher gender or teaching position. Utilizing a non-experimental, correlational design, data were collected via an online survey administering the Servant Leadership Scale and the Turnover Intention Scale (TIS-6). The final sample consisted of 410 experienced elementary teachers. Data were analyzed using JASP employing descriptive …

Antecedents Of Trust: Emotional Intelligence And Organizational Justice As Predictors Of Faculty Trust In Principals, Brandon Wolf

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Trust between school principals and faculty is critical to school effectiveness, influencing teacher job satisfaction, engagement, and ultimately, student achievement. While the importance of trust in educational leadership is well-documented, limited research exists on the specific practices that cultivate this trust. This study examines two potential antecedents of faculty trust in principals: Emotional Intelligence and Organizational Justice. Emotional Intelligence, encompassing self-awareness, empathy, and relationship management, is hypothesized to enhance faculty perceptions of a principal’s benevolence, reliability, and openness - all components of trust. Organizational Justice, which reflects fairness in decision-making and resource distribution, is expected to strengthen faculty trust by …

Navigating Faith And Duty: A Phenomenological Study Of Christian Leadership In Public Schools, Rett Asbury

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of Christian K–12 principals in public schools who encounter expectations and practices incongruent with their beliefs. The problem addressed was the limited empirical understanding of how faith‑motivated leaders navigate ethical tensions in secular educational environments and how these tensions affect their leadership and school communities. Guided by one primary research question and three sub‑research questions, the study examined (a) the challenges and ethical tensions principals face, (b) the strategies they employ to navigate value discrepancies between their Christian convictions and diverse school communities, and (c) the impact of these dynamics on leadership effectiveness, …

Cultivating Holistic And Mindful Rest Practices: A Workbook, Cecelia V. Murray

Mindfulness Theses

In a cultural moment that conflates productivity with self-worth, rest is often undervalued or seen as indulgent. This thesis explores mindfulness as a means of reframing rest as an essential human right and a cornerstone of holistic wellness. Drawing on Bill Hettler’s Six Dimensions of Wellness (i.e. physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, and occupational wellness), this project situates mindful rest as a multidimensional practice that supports balance across body, mind, and spirit. This work also highlights the social, structural, and psychological barriers that affect individuals’ access to rest. It argues that while mindfulness alone cannot resolve systemic inequities, it can …

Mindfulness And Psychedelics: Rethinking The Fifth Precept, Ernesto Londono

Mindfulness Studies Theses

The fields of psychedelics and mindfulness have a long history of cross-pollination in the United States that dates to the counterculture movement in the 1960s. As the use of these mind-altering compounds in therapeutic and spiritual contexts has become less stigmatized and more popular in recent years, psychedelic retreats and therapies are once again drawing people who also value contemplative practices. This paper explores the historic and contemporary tension people with overlapping interests in mindfulness and psychedelics have faced as they interpreted the Fifth Precept, the Buddhist guideline that advises people to abstain from intoxicants. Taking stock of the history …

What Truly Drives Graduate Earnings?, Aiden Akbarov

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2026

The goal of my project, Predicting the Paycheck: What Factors Truly Influence Graduate Earnings?, was to see if we could actually predict a college graduate's starting salary using data instead of just guessing. I used a dataset of 172 majors from the American Community Survey to look at how a student's field of study, the gender balance of their major, and the current job market all impact their first paycheck. I wanted to create a tool that helps students understand the financial reality of their degree before they even graduate.

To get my results, I used a Multiple Linear Regression …

Exploring The Impact Of Age On Traumatic Brain Injury Cause And Recovery In Arkansas: A Retrospective Review, Abby Jones, Steven Wheeler, Jessica Danley

2026 Honors Symposium

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) remain a major public health concern, and increasing evidence goes to show the significance of the effect of age in quality of care, diagnosis, and recovery outcomes. In rural states, such as Arkansas, where research has shown a lack of resources and higher fatality rates among TBI patients, healthcare professionals can become better informed and equipped as a result of research efforts to uncover the effects of age on cause and recovery for inpatient TBI individuals in the early stages (Daugherty et al., 2022). Current research and prior evidence suggests that older individuals are more likely …

Do Developers Read Type Information? An Eye-Tracking Study On Typescript, Samuel W. Flint, Robert Dyer, Bonita Sharif

Research & Publications

Statically-annotated types have been shown to aid developers in a number of programming tasks, and this benefit holds true even when static type checking is not used. It is hypothesized that this is because developers use type annotations as in-code documentation. In this study, we aim to provide evidence that developers use type annotations as in-code documentation. Understanding this hypothesized use will help to understand how, and in what contexts, developers use type information; additionally, it may help to design better development tools and inform educational decisions. To provide this evidence, we conduct an eye tracking study with 26 undergraduate …

Texas’S Attempt To Compete With Delaware, Robert A. Ragazzo

Fordham Journal of Corporate & Financial Law

Delaware derives substantial economic benefits from attracting incorporation business. Other states have sought to receive a share of these economic benefits. Texas is among them. Part I of this article will consider Texas’s attempt to copy Delaware’s enabling philosophy. It will conclude that, although the Texas courts have not always shared Delaware’s enabling view, the Texas legislature has historically done its best to place Texas on a par with Delaware in terms of its enabling philosophy of corporate governance. In recent times, the Texas legislature has actually outdone the Delaware legislature in creating a pro-managerial corporate environment. Part II of …

Improving Feeding Outcomes: Occupation-Based Feeding Interventions From Nicu To Outpatient Pediatrics, Bailey Ciardelli

OTD Capstones

A researcher from an entry-level doctorate program examined gaps in feeding and sensory-based care for premature infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and outpatient pediatric feeding setting. The Improving Feeding Outcomes project aimed to improve feeding readiness, sensory regulation, and caregiver confidence through the development of occupation-based, family-centered interventions. This report evaluates the implementation of evidence-based resources, including caregiver education handouts, a NICU staff training presentation, a caregiver tummy time group, and a standardized infant feeding assessment tool integrated into outpatient pediatric therapy practice. These interventions were designed to address gaps in OT-led infant feeding and sensory care, …

Mmpi-3 Indicators Of Suicidal Ideation And Behavior In Post-9/11 Veterans, Alec Rothman

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

Suicide remains a serious concern among post-9/11 U.S. military veterans, highlighting the need for effective tools to identify those at risk. This study examined whether the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3), a commonly used psychological test, can help assess suicide risk in this population.

I analyzed responses from 189 post-9/11 veterans, a group largely reflective of the current veteran population, who completed the MMPI-3 and other measures looking at their mental health and history of suicidal thoughts or attempts. I focused on the MMPI-3’s Suicidal/Death Ideation (SUI) scale, along with other MMPI-3 scales that measure internalizing symptoms (such as depression …

Beyond The Game: Educating Youth Coaches In Sport Psychology And Psychological Skills Training, John Wygant

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

This paper presents the development of a manualized program designed to train youth sport coaches to implement a psychological skills training (PST) program that enhances both athletic performance and mental health. Rooted in sport psychology and coaching expertise, this program introduces a novel approach to addressing youth mental health challenges through upstream intervention. With many young athletes facing mental health struggles and traditional efforts in schools and communities showing limited success, this program equips coaches to teach essential psychological skills such as goal setting, adaptive thinking, confidence, and emotional regulation. By integrating these skills into sports practices and presenting them …

Court-Mandated Parenting Intervention: A Parenting Program To Reduce Conflict And Increase Positive Coping Skills For High-Conflict Parents In Family Court, Joshua T. Metcalf

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

The number of children in the United States whose parents have either separated or divorced has continued to increase over time. While some parents are able to effectively co-parent their children after separation or divorce, others may be unwilling or unable to effectively do so. Parents who ineffectively co-parent their children, often referred to as high conflict co-parents, can often over utilize family court resources to solve disputes and to make co-parenting decisions. In the literature review presented, current co-parenting resources often utilized by family courts are explored and research regarding current co-parenting interventions is discussed. Additionally, key components of …

Use Of Single-Case Research Designs In An Academic Setting, Paul Ganago

Brehm Scholars Research

No abstract provided.

Bragging Rights: How Women Candidates Use Endorsements In Strategic Messages, Eva Carter, Tyhlar Holliway

Distinguished Undergraduate Researcher Program

This research analyzes the methods and terminology employed by men and women candidates when they talk about their political endorsements in strategic campaign communication. While existing literature addresses topics such as educating uninformed voters, the influence of endorsements in political campaigns, messaging ethics, celebrity endorsements, and the correlation between money and endorsements, analyses of gender differences in the use and types of endorsements remain underdeveloped. We argue that women candidates, due to the unique vulnerabilities they face in campaigns (Bauer 2015; Lazarus and Steigerwaltz 2018), will be more likely than men to highlight their endorsements in campaign ads. We record …

Lapses In Care Among Patients With Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: A Mixed-Methods Study, Serina Sera Applebaum

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) affects approximately 7% of individuals with diabetes and requires consistent follow-up to prevent irreversible vision loss. Despite this, lapses in PDR care are common, but poorly characterized. We conducted a two-phase mixed-methods evaluation, including a quantitative retrospective national cohort study of individuals with PDR, followed by a qualitative study investigating participant perspectives on their own lapses in PDR care. In the quantitative component, we used data from 13 academic health systems in the Sight Outcomes Research Collaborative (SOURCE) Repository between 2008 and 2023 to identify adults aged ≥18 with PDR and ≥6 months of ophthalmic follow-up. …

Disparities In Utilization Of Glp-1 Receptor Agonists And Sglt2 Inhibitors Across Social Determinants Of Health: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Nisarg Shah

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

Background: SGLT2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) significantly reduce cardiovascular and metabolic risk in type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. Yet real-world utilization remains inconsistent, and emerging evidence suggests that social determinants of health (SDOH) may contribute to unequal access and prescribing.Research Aims: The extent and drivers of these disparities have not been systematically characterized, so we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess whether SDOH—socioeconomic status (SES), insurance status, education, geography, and neighborhood deprivation index (NDI)—and demographic factors—race and sex—are associated with differential utilization of SGLT2i or GLP-1RA. Question: To what extent are SES, insurance …

Prevalence, Reporting, And Management Of Interstitial Lung Abnormalities And Incidental Findings On Lung Cancer Screening, Tian Wei Yu

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

Background: Low dose computed tomography for lung cancer screening frequently identifies incidental findings. The most frequent and consequential thoracic and upper abdominal incidental findings include interstitial lung disease (ILD), interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA), emphysema, coronary artery calcification, aortic calcification, aortic aneurysm, and adrenal lesions. Many of these abnormalities carry prognostic and therapeutic implications. However, the prevalence of these findings, variation in reporting practices, and downstream management within integrated health systems remain incompletely characterized, particularly for ILA and ILD.

Research Aims: We aimed to quantify the prevalence of selected incidental findings on lung cancer screening CT across a large multi-hospital health …

Pinky Extension In American Sign Language: Evidence For A Lexically Restricted Morphological Process, Laurel Whitsett

Linguistics & TESOL Dissertations

This study investigates pinky extension (PE) in American Sign Language (ASL). PE involves extending the pinky finger in signs, even though this feature is not present in standard dictionary representations of those signs. Although PE has been previously described as conveying emphasis, this account does not fully explain its distribution. This study asks whether PE reflects a meaningful part of how signs are structured in ASL, rather than a matter of individual style or variation. Focusing on adjectives, it examines whether PE interacts with sentence position. In ASL, certain adjectives may appear either before (prenominally) or after (postnominally) the noun …

Measles Vaccine Hesitancy Improvement Bundle To Improve Vaccination Rates In A Rural Outpatient Clinic, Ramie Malone

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Introduction

Despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendations to vaccinate children against measles, a decline in measles vaccination rates has been observed at a rural family medicine clinic. While numerous factors contribute to the decline in vaccination rates—including parental doubts about the necessity of vaccination, concerns about vaccine side effects, and insufficient education—the latter remains a fundamental underlying cause of suboptimal vaccination coverage.

Objectives

This project focused on surveying, educating, and boosting parents' confidence in measles vaccines for children under five to raise the measles vaccination rate.

Methods

This project used a pre- and post-intervention bundle over an …

Reducing 30-Day Readmission Rates In Patients With Heart Failure, Charles Mccoy

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Abstract

Globally, heart failure affects approximately 54 million individuals and has reached pandemic levels, contributing to elevated 30-day readmission rates (Sa et al., 2024). Background: In the United States, 30-day readmission rates range from 18% to 20%, with similar rates across all states. The current rate was documented as 29% at the study setting hospital. Objective: Implement a Quality Improvement project based on education, evidence-based order sets, and referral to palliative care to reduce 30-day readmission rates among adults with heart failure. Methods: Nursing staff completed education specific to heart failure, and patients received the American Heart Association Self-Check assessment. …

Ask, Advise, And Act: A Smoking Cessation Bundle For Cancer Patients, Crystal Tencate

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Smoking is the number one cause of preventable illness and death in the United States. For patients undergoing cancer treatment, continued tobacco use poses serious risks. In surgical oncology, smoking is associated with poorer treatment outcomes, increased postoperative complications, delayed wound healing, and higher mortality. For patients requiring reconstructive surgery, smoking-related complications can be devastating, sometimes resulting in significant wound complications or loss of the reconstruction. Despite these well-established risks, smoking cessation interventions are not consistently integrated into clinical practice.

To address this gap, a quality improvement project was implemented to strengthen smoking cessation efforts among advanced practice providers (APPs) …

Improving Asthma Management In Schools: A Comprehensive Approach To Education, Environmental Enhancements And Asthma Action Plans, Yesenia Trevino

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Abstract

Introduction

Asthma contributes to school absenteeism, especially in underserved communities. This project aimed to enhance asthma management at a South Texas elementary school through staff and student education, monthly air filter changes, and personalized Asthma Action Plans (AAPs).

Methods

A quality improvement project at a South Texas elementary school involved 40 asthmatic students over eight weeks, using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework. It included staff and student education, air filter maintenance, and facilitation of Asthma Action Plans (AAPs). Pre/post surveys, custodial logs, AAP audits, and attendance were analyzed, with paired t-tests used to assess changes (N=32).

Results

There was 71.9% …

Starting Strong: Improving Mmr Vaccination Rates In Kindergartners, Regina Bryan

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Abstract

Introduction

During the 2023–2024 academic year, measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination coverage among kindergarten students in this school district did not meet the Healthy People 2030 target, thereby elevating the risk of disease outbreaks. This quality improvement project aimed to improve MMR vaccination initiation and completion through coordinated, school-based interventions.

Methods

Guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework, an eight-week immunization bundle was implemented across 14 elementary schools in South Texas. Interventions included reminder calls, multilingual education, districtwide communication, and a partnership with a nonprofit clinic that provides free or reduced-cost vaccines through on-site and community clinics. Pre- and post-intervention …

Ambient Listening: Using Artificial Intelligence To Transcribe Provider Office Visits, Odia Russette

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Background: Electronic health record (EHR) documentation burdens contribute to increased “pajama time” or after–hours charting, reduced job satisfaction, and provider burnout. Provider burnout leads to provider and critical access point losses. Ambient–listening artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have emerged as a possible tool to reduce charting burdens; however, evidence from outpatient wellness settings remains limited.

Local Problem: At an urban adult wellness clinic in Texas with limited resources for completing tasks, in-clinic and after-hours “pajama time” charting burdens contributed to provider fatigue, job dissatisfaction, and burnout.

Methods: A quality improvement (QI) project using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework implemented an AI ambient …

A Quality Improvement Project To Decrease Medication Prior Authorization Approval Times, Amena Guinn Babers

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Background: Medication prior authorization requirements add to administrative burden, increase labor costs, and delay patient access to treatment in outpatient specialty settings. This bottleneck directly influences nursing workload and economic performance.

Purpose: To evaluate the fiscal and performance significance of implementing an electronic prior authorization (ePA) process, standardized tracking tools, and staff education in a small orthopedic clinic.

Methods: A pre–post quality improvement design was used. Descriptive statistics and inferential analyses (independent‑samples t tests and Mann–Whitney U tests) were conducted to compare time to approval, staff hours worked, satisfaction scores, and medication pickup timeframes.

Results: Significant reductions were observed in …

Improving Discharge Delays Through A Real-Time Durable Medical Equipment Tracking System And Enhanced Interdisciplinary Communication, Shonda Houston

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Background: Timely hospital discharge is essential for patient safety, satisfaction and hospital efficiency. Discharge delays, particularly those related to durable medical equipment (DME), increase length of stay (LOS), strain hospital resources and negatively impact patient outcomes. Evidence suggests that structured discharge planning and improved interdisciplinary communication reduce these delays.

Problem: On an acute care stepdown unit inconsistent DME tracking and poor communication among nurses, case managers, physicians, physical therapist, and DME vendors were identified as contributors to prolonged patient stays.

Methods: Guided by the Iowa Model of Evidence- Based Practice a real-time manual DME tracking system and …

Inpatient Stroke Quality Improvement, Briyawna N. Wyatt

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Inpatient nursing documentation for stroke care is essential for meeting quality metrics, maintaining continuity, and supporting timely decisions. Gaps can lead to inconsistent care, metric failures, and reduced staff confidence. This quality improvement initiative aimed to improve metric compliance, documentation consistency, and nursing knowledge and satisfaction. A three-part intervention included targeted education, a standardized documentation verification form, and ongoing feedback from stroke champions. Outcomes measured were metric compliance, knowledge (pre/posttests), documentation completeness (Venous Thromboembolism (VTE), education, Modified Rankin Scale), and staff satisfaction. Results showed significant improvement in nursing knowledge (p < .005), reduced metric fallouts, and better documentation across all indicators. Staff satisfaction increased by about 20%. Overall, combining education, standardized tools, and continuous feedback improved documentation practices, enhanced compliance with stroke metrics, and increased nursing knowledge and satisfaction, supporting better care processes and patient outcomes.

Empowering Patient Engagement In Effort To Reduce Readmissions, Derinda Hugaboon, Msn, Rn

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Background: Hospital readmissions among Medicare beneficiaries remain a major quality concern and are often associated with social determinants of health (SDOH) and care transition gaps. Targeted discharge interventions that address self‑management needs and follow‑up barriers may reduce avoidable readmissions. Objective: To reduce readmissions by implementing a bundled intervention addressing social determinants of health (SDOH), care‑transition gaps, and inadequate post‑discharge primary care follow‑up. Methods: Medicare Advantage (MA) members aged ≥45 were included. A total of 249 members accounted for 275 overall admissions during the project period; 191 admissions (69.5%) received at least one intervention component (informational discharge packet, face‑to‑face encounter, and/or …