Digital Commons Network^™

Undergraduate Student Decision-Making: Pursuing Graduate Studies At The Same Institution That Granted The Undergraduate Degree, Anthony C. Marziliano

Theses and Dissertations

Colleges and universities are under pressure to increase enrollment and avoid attrition. It is clear that institutions need to increase efforts to work against decreasing graduate enrollment trends and focusing on students already in-place on campus may be an avenue to do so. Research is lacking concerning factors that may be related to the decision by undergraduate students to pursue graduate studies at the same institution that granted the undergraduate degree. Understanding key characteristics of the group that remains at the institution allows us to identify a student profile to focus on to increase graduate enrollment, especially in light of …

English Language Learners’ Perceptions And Experiences Using Multimodal Tools To Prepare And Deliver Video Presentations Of Digital Portfolios, Mara M. Marino

Theses and Dissertations

With the increase in digital literacies in schools and the rise in the number of English language learners (ELLs) in US colleges, it is important to examine the affordances of multimodality as it relates to students’ digital literacy practices while advocating for this diverse population. Using a multiliteracies framework, this qualitative action research study made multimodal tools available to ELLs for the preparation and delivery of video presentations of digital portfolios in a higher education English course. The participants in this study were six ELLs from a small private college. The primary research question and two sub-questions were answered using …

Neither Without Both: Confronting Oppression And Trauma In Universities – Community Rhetorics Toward Abolitionist Critical Literacy Practices, Jennifer Lebowitz Patel

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores pathways to addressing student suffering at the intersection of mental health and academic performance in Higher Education. I argue that Learning Specialist roles offer spaces to practice trauma-informed, anti-oppression approaches to academic support through liberatory, healing rhetorical and literacy practices. This study uses James Berlin’s theory of social epistemic rhetoric and bell hooks’ concept of theory as liberatory praxis to perform rhetorical analyses of the foundational texts guiding specific anti-oppression and/or mental health recovery organizations. By identifying rhetorical strategies in grassroots community organizations' texts, this project yields implications for naming and practicing a critical literacy framework I …

The Dual Factor Model: Comparing Predictive Validity Of Different Informant Variations On Academic And Mental Health Outcomes, Kim Keller

Theses and Dissertations

The Dual Factor Model (DFM) of mental health conceptualizes well-being and psychopathology as distinct but interrelated constructs. Unlike traditional models that focus solely on psychopathology, the DFM incorporates positive attributes such as subjective well-being, allowing for a more meaningful classification of students (Greenspoon & Falkofske, 2001; Suldo & Shaffer, 2008). Despite its increasing use in school-based research, prior studies have lacked intention in informant selection when assessing internalizing and externalizing behaviors, leading to variability in DFM construction. Given known discrepancies among self, teacher, and parent reports in mental health assessment, informant choice may significantly impact classification and predictive validity (De …

All Angry Youth Are Not The Same: A Latent Profile Analysis Of The Anger Regulation And Expression Scale, Natasha Toralba Kostek

Theses and Dissertations

This study identified youth subgroups with distinct dysfunctional anger patterns using an exploratory latent profile analysis (LPA) procedure. The analytic samples were derived from an archival sample of 10- to 17-year-olds (N = 1,348) who completed the Anger Regulation and Expression Scale (ARES; DiGiuseppe & Tafrate, 2011), a narrowband standardized measure of anger and aggression in youth. The study aimed to (a) verify whether previously identified clinical and subclinical Subjective, Expressive, and Combined Anger Types found in adult and youth samples would manifest in this dataset and (b) identify subtypes within these categories to clarify internalized and externalized anger patterns …

Working Harder, Or Working Faster? Novel And Working Memory Task Validity For Inidividuals With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Jacqueline Anne Hilbert

Theses and Dissertations

Imagine having a disorder where you are predisposed to score a year below average on examinations for your age (Lawrence et al., 2020). This is the frustrating reality for individuals with ADHD. This life-long neurodevelopmental disorder impacts people's functioning in their everyday lives, including standardized task performance. However, it is possible that individuals with ADHD may actually present advantages in tasks that require the ability to release taxing cognitive processes, such as proactive cognitive control. This question has not been examined before and may shed light on the interpretation of ADHD individuals’ performance on standardized tests and tasks. To this …

Reinstated But Not Forgotten: Examining The Academic Recovery Of Community College Students After Dismissal, Nelson Izquierdo

Theses and Dissertations

Student retention and success are critical challenges in higher education, particularly for community colleges that serve diverse and at-risk student populations. While research has explored student persistence and academic probation, little is known about the factors influencing the academic recovery of reinstated students after academic dismissal. This study examines how demographic characteristics (age, gender, and ethnicity) and major program choice (STEM, Social Sciences, Humanities, Health Sciences, Education, and Business) impact GPA improvement and credit completion post-reinstatement. Guided by Schlossberg’s Transition Theory (1995), this quantitative, ex post facto study analyzed archival data from 2,112 reinstated students at a large, urban community …

Extracurricular Activity Involvement As A Protective Factor For Adolescent Delinquency For Youth Exposed To Parental Alcohol And/Or Drug Dependency, Faith Ippoliti

Theses and Dissertations

The present study investigated whether extracurricular involvement in adolescence serves as a protective factor against adolescent delinquency for youth exposed to parental alcohol and/or drug dependency in early childhood. While previous research has established parental substance use as a risk factor for adolescent delinquency, less is known about whether extracurricular activities moderate this association. The present study included a subsample of 3,251 youth (n = 1,662 boys, 1,589 girls) from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS), a probability sample of births in large US cities (> 200,000) between 1998 and 2000. Parental alcohol and/or drug dependency was …

The Role Of Auditory And Visual Processing In Developmental Dyslexia: A Quantitative Study Based On Archival Data, Doris Kanoun

Theses and Dissertations

Dyslexia is a popular condition that is associated with impaired reading abilities. Different sources state that it can be observed in around 3-10% of the population. Low reading fluency and reading comprehension, which are often exhibited by dyslexics, can dramatically influence the learning process and reduce academic achievement. In spite of the growing number of studies on dyslexia, the nature and causes of this condition remain poorly understood. In particular, studies offer contradictory findings on the link between dyslexia and auditory and visual processing disorders. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the role of auditory and visual …

Nani, Aji, & My Memory: Poems From A Guyaneseamerican Granddaughter, Tina Gurcharan

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an autoethnography reflecting the generations who came before me from Guyana, as well as my own identity as a Guyanese-American writer in the present day, contributing to the growing creative scholarship available on our Motherland and the descendants of its broader diaspora. Alongside the knowledge that can only derive out of lived experience, I begin with a Critical Preface that draws from imaginative literature of enslavement before exploring indenture literature, queer poetry, and, finally, Guyanese poetry, in my Critical Preface. A Poetic Statement follows thereafter, sharing insight into my mindset during my writing process. The next section …

The Impact Of Career And Technical Education Programs On Hispanic High School Graduation, José M. Fernández

Theses and Dissertations

his quantitative correlational research study investigated the impact of Career and Technical Education programs on the graduation rates of Hispanic high school students. Specifically, this study discussed the challenges our Hispanic students face in our public school system regarding access to quality education that prepares them to graduate and be college and career ready. The study relied upon Kolb's experiential learning theory model, which divides the learning experience into four modes. 1. Concrete experiences 2. Passive reflective observation 3. Abstract conceptualization 4. Active Experimentation. According to Kolb & Kolb (2005), experiential learning theory and real-life learning in the context of …

Homeostatic Regulation Of Access Serotonin Is Suggested By An Increased Number Of Serotonin Transporter (Slc6a4a) Expressing Neurons Of The Dorsal Raphe, Hala Algarni

Theses and Dissertations

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter system that is essential for driving behavior related to movement, attention and foraging. In humans, an increase or decrease in healthy levels of serotonin result in neuropsychological issues, including anxiety and depression. Despite these health concerns, our understanding of serotonin regulation and homeostasis is still poorly understood and needs more research from a variety of model and non-model animal systems. This study was designed to study serotonin homeostasis in the blind Mexican cavefish, a non- model system for understanding complex biological traits. The blind Mexican cavefish provides a multi-population species that includes river dwelling fish with …

Positive Family Intervention For A Spanish-Speaking Family Of A Child With Autism: Impact On Child’S Behaviors And Parental Cognitions And Stress, Iris Garza

Theses and Dissertations

The present study investigated the effects of a culturally and linguistically adapted Positive Family Intervention (PFI) on child behavior as well as parental stress and beliefs for a Spanish-speaking family of a child with autism. PFI combines Positive Behavior Support (PBS) to teach parents the skills to manage their child’s behavioral challenges with Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help parents manage their own thoughts and feelings. An AB single-case design was used to examine the impact of PFI on directly observed child behavioral challenges and adaptive behavior. Further, parent-reported stress, parental attributions, and parent-reported child behavioral challenges were examined pre- and …

Neighborhood Context And Covid-19 Mortality, Patrick Dawid

Theses and Dissertations

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected racial and ethnic minority populations in the U.S., with disparities in infection rates and population-level mortality. Research on racial/ethnic differences in case fatality rates (i.e., mortality per diagnosed case) has yielded mixed results, with some studies finding higher mortality for racial/ethnic minority patients and others showing no differences. These inconsistencies may stem from context-dependent factors including neighborhood characteristics. One potential neighborhood variable which may affect health is ethnic density—the concentration of a racial/ethnic group within a neighborhood—which has shown protective, detrimental, and neutral effects in prior studies. Ethnic density may influence health outcomes through …

Adsorption And Recovery Studies Of Cadmium And Lead Ions Using Biowaste Adsorbents From Aqueous Solutions, Liang Feng

Theses and Dissertations

The use of low-cost biowaste adsorbents for the removal of toxic metal ions from aqueous solutions offers significant environmental benefits and demonstrates strong potential. This study evaluated luffa peels and chamomile flowers as low-cost biosorbents for the adsorption and recovery of Cd2+ and Pb2+ ions in both batch and column modes. To enhance adsorption capacity, the biosorbents were treated with 0.4 M HNO3 or 0.4 M NaOH. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) characterization showed that surface OH, C=O, CO and COO groups played a role in the adsorption process. Batch adsorption studies indicated an order of adsorption capacity as follows: …

Examination Of School Professionals’ Knowledge Of Selective Mutism And Other Childhood Mental Health Disorders, Alisa Gudz

Theses and Dissertations

Selective Mutism (SM) is an anxiety disorder characterized by the consistent failure to speak in specific social situations, despite the ability to effectively communicate in other settings. School professionals play an important role in identifying and supporting students with SM; however, previous studies suggest that knowledge of SM among school professionals is limited. The purpose of this study was to examine school professionals’ knowledge of SM compared to their knowledge of two other more common childhood disorders – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). This study investigated whether knowledge of ADHD or SAD was a stronger …

Examination Of School Interventions Using Single-Case Design Methodology In Clinical Psychology Journals, Kendall H. Catanzaro

Theses and Dissertations

Single-case design methodology has been recognized as a practical approach for evaluating interventions in school-based settings (Burns, 2014; Troyer, 2022). However, research regarding the prevalence of single-case designs in examining evidence-based interventions in school settings remains limited (Nock et al., 2008; Radley et al., 2020). This information is valuable given that schools are the largest provider of mental health services for youth (Camhi, 2014; Flood & Joseph, 2023) and school psychologists examine research from a variety of domains when considering treatment plans (Volpe et al., 2022). This study addressed this gap in the literature by looking at the distribution of …

Beyond The Border: Analyzing The Role Of Unjust U.S Policies In Shaping The Migrant Crisis In New York City., Elvita Bouzy

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines how unjust and dysfunctional U.S. immigration laws have shaped the migrant crisis in New York City, particularly during the 2022-2024 influx of migrants, through the lens of Critical Race Theory (CRT). It explores how racialized immigration policies, systemic inequities, and rising nativism have intensified challenges faced by migrants from Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and other marginalized regions. The study examines political opposition and media portrayals since the mid-1980s that hindered immigration reform, exposing a flawed system lacking adequate legal pathways. This inadequate framework has fueled discrimination and worsened asylum seekers' hardships. Driven by nativist sentiment and …

Our Morality Or Your Morality? An Exploration Of The Influence Of Group Membership On Moral Judgment And The Moderating Influence Of Theory Of Mind, Phoebe Flora Dadson

Theses and Dissertations

The present study explores the interaction between social group membership and moral judgment in decision-making. This interaction is also assessed through the moderating value of Theory of Mind (TOM), encompassing both affective and cognitive empathy. This research hypothesizes that 1) there is an association between TOM and decision-making in morality, 2) group membership, expressed as adherence to political ideology, influences moral judgment, 3) a higher frequency of utilitarian choices in other beneficial moral dilemmas is expected to be correlated with a stronger association with political group ideals. The sample population is comprised of college students at St. John’s University (N …

Neurophysiological Indices Of Lexical Tone Processing In Children With Different Language Background, Andres Felipe Diaz

Theses and Dissertations

The development of lexical tone processing in children is shaped by both language experience and acoustic salience. While mismatch responses (MMRs) and late negativity (LN) components of event-related potentials (ERPs) have revealed early sensitivity to lexical tone in monolingual children, the timeline for achieving adult-like neural responses—particularly for acoustically distinct versus subtle tone contrasts— remains unclear. Moreover, little is known about how bilingual language experience, especially with tonal versus non-tonal home languages, modulates this neural processing. This study employed a passive multi-oddball paradigm using Mandarin Tone 3 (low dipping) as the standard, and Tone 1 (high level) and Tone 2 …

Barriers To Success In Higher Education For Second-Generation Caribbean American Men, Leonard S. Breton

Theses and Dissertations

While the United States may be progressing, second-generation Caribbean American men, those with at least one foreign-born parent (US Census Bureau, 2016), are a population that, despite literature addressing benefits and detriments of their cultural experiences, still warrants continued examination through empirical testing (Lyttle et al., 2011). These students have a range of factors that make them nontraditional students. Challenges such as racism, sexual and ethnic identity, and generational status in this country can be compounded when cultural perspectives of immigrant families are factored in. Caribbean American men are guided by learned behaviors and cultural traditions that influence training and …

Reflecting Upon Writing Challenges Among Students With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Claudia Rose Addeo

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to disclose the writing challenges faced by students in Grades 5–8 who have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and writing strategies that can be helpful for these specific students. Six students were recruited as participants within a school district located in a suburban area in the Northeast region of the United States. This study was guided by two leading research questions, the first inquiring about the writing challenges that are prevalent among students with ADHD in Grades 5–8, and the second research question aiming to determine supportive writing practices. First-hand data were gathered …

Understanding The Inequities Of Academic Programs And Student Achievement In Post-Covid New York State, Erwin Bernal

Theses and Dissertations

The Covid-19 pandemic revealed the reality of learning loss which caused an extended period of online and hybrid learning. Questions about socioeconomic inequities between school districts also manifested. Through the guidance of the theoretical frameworks of John Rawls’ Theory of Justice nd the Hanover Research Toolkit for Systemic Implementation of Equity, this non-experimental study compared the demographics, academic programs, opportunities, and instructional practices of school districts at various socioeconomic levels in New York State. The methods used for this study included simple and multiple linear regressions. The study found that students who are economically disadvantaged, students with disabilities, needs resource …

Analysis And Authentication Of An Optical Method For Early Detection Of Harmful Algal Blooms, Cody Schumacher

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The proliferation and frequency of harmful algal blooms (HABs) attributed to eutrophication, storm events and a changing climate have been an increasing concern in both lotic and lentic freshwater ecosystems. Methods of detecting HABs have been explored through fluorescent measurement and sample analysis, but are often expensive and time-consuming. A novel smart device application is in development to detect HABs based on images captured and analyzed by machine learning algorithms trained to distinguish potential cyanobacterial blooms. The HABs App model accurately detected cyanobacteria in strong relationship with biovolume concentrations (R² = 0.996) within the Greenup Pool of the Ohio …

Pervasive Sensing To Correlate Vehicle Driving Behavior With City-Scale Traffic Dynamics, Debasree Das, Shameek Bhattacharjee, Sandip Chakraborty, Bivas Mitra, Sajal K. Das

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Individual driving behavior is a pivotal element that shapes the overall traffic dynamics in a city. In this work, we study and analyze the complex web of relationships between individual driving behaviors and their impact on the overall traffic dynamics of a smart city with two primary objectives: first, understanding the spatial interaction between individual vehicles and their impact on each other, and second, finding anomalous driving behaviors, which lead to congestion and traffic incidents. Specifically, we introduce an overarching modular framework investigating human factors of driver characteristics, vehicle attributes, geographical terrain surrounding the road infrastructure, and environmental conditions. Analyzing …

Diamond In The Rough: A Century Of Education And Democracy At Deep Springs College, L. Jackson Newell

Eastern Sierra History Journal

Deep Springs College, one of the great innovations in American higher education, is the subject of this close reading of its history, educational philosophy, and present state. Situated in the rugged eastern California high desert, the college has managed to survive, even thrive, despite innumerable challenges.

Annual Report Of The Town Officers Of The Town Of Pittsburg, New Hampshire For The Year Ending December 31, 2024, Pittsburg Town Representatives

Pittsburg, NH Annual Reports

This is an annual report containing vital statistics for a town/city in the state of New Hampshire.

Town Of Ellsworth, New Hampshire Annual Report For The Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2024, Ellsworth Town Representatives

Ellsworth, NH Annual Reports

This is an annual report containing vital statistics for a town/city in the state of New Hampshire.

Assessing Older Adults’ Readiness For Adopting Fall Prevention Recommendations Using The Transtheoretical Stages Of Change, Janice Mark, Ankita Henry, Briana Moreland, Dawson Dobash, Gwendolyn Bergen

Nursing and Health Professions Faculty Research and Publications

Objectives: Reducing fall risk requires older adults (age 65+) to adopt effective prevention strategies. This study has three aims: 1) understand Stage of Change (SOC) for three fall prevention strategies; 2) determine strategies older adults’ use; and 3) understand which characteristics relate to readiness to take action.

Methods: A survey of 1063 older adults assessed fall risk, SOC, and use of fall prevention strategies. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and regression analysis.

Results: The most common SOC for older adults by strategy was action for overall fall prevention (61%), contemplation for medication management (45%) and preparation and …

Ethical Decision-Making For Ai In Mental Health: The Integrated Ethical Approach For Computational Psychiatry (Ieacp) Framework, William Bosl, Andrea Putica, Rahul Khanna, Sudeep Saraf, Juliet Edgcomb

Nursing and Health Professions Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.