Digital Commons Network^™

David Michael Walker [Inducted 2010], American Accounting Association

Accounting Hall of Fame Brochures

No abstract provided.

Lee Nicholson [Inducted 2019], American Accounting Association

Accounting Hall of Fame Brochures

No abstract provided.

Delay Of Gratification And Relationship To Eating Disorders, Monica D. Grambusch

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Delay of gratification has been studied across a wide range of topics, with a typical association with positive traits for self-control and behavior adaptation. This study focuses on eating disorders and Delay of Gratification to understand the contradictory nature it may have related to eating disordered behaviors. The Eating Attitudes Test (26), Delay of Gratification Inventory, and a demographics survey were conducted online, screening for participants over 18 years of age with self-reported previous eating disorders. This quantitative study focused on two research questions. Research Question 1 examined if there was a relationship between Delay of Gratification scores and selfreported …

Effect Of Spirituality On The Mental Health Of Adults Who Experienced Bullying In Their Childhood, Celiana Rodriguez-Gonzalez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Bullying experiences in childhood have been found to significantly affect mental health in adulthood, particularly through depression and anxiety. Spirituality has been identified as a protective factor for mental health, contributing to quality of life, satisfaction, and purpose. It may also buffer the effects of violence and bullying. This correlational study examined the relationships among childhood bullying, spirituality, and adult mental health in a sample of individuals from Puerto Rico (N=124). Specifically, whether spirituality moderates the relationship between childhood bullying and adult mental health outcomes. Results indicated that childhood bullying was moderately associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression, …

What Impact Did Covid-19 Have On College Students With Social Anxiety Disorder: A Phenomenological Research Study, Kenneth R. Reines

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study aimed to explore the impact the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2023) had on college students diagnosed with social anxiety disorder (SAD). Guided by Lazarus and Folkman’s (1984) Stress and Coping Theory, this study explored how participants perceived and coped with the difficulties they experienced during this difficult period. Data was gathered through Zoom interviews with six former students with a clinical diagnosis of social anxiety disorder.. Participants’ experiences collectively reflected persistent psychological decline, characterized by long-term worsening of symptoms and a lasting psychological impact marked by the exacerbation of social anxiety disorder (SAD). Isolation and disconnection stemming from limited …

The Effects Of Grounding Techniques On Strength And Power In Division Ii Track And Field Athletes: A Pre/Post Cohort Study, Matthew Ronald Hall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Grounding is the practice of connecting the human body to the Earth’s electrical surface. It has been proposed as a natural intervention capable of reducing inflammation, enhancing recovery, and improving physiological balance. While previous research has identified benefits for general health and recovery, limited evidence exists regarding its effects on athletic performance. This study investigated the effects of grounding interventions on strength and power among Division II track and field athletes. A five-week, pre/post randomized prospective cohort design was employed with thirty participants, stratified for men and women, which included three groups: grounding sheets, grounding pads, control. Athletes were assessed …

Homelessness Among Utah Women: A 2025 Update, Robyn C. Blackburn, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

In 2025, the total number of Utah residents experiencing homelessness on any given night grew to 4,584,¹ up from 3,131 in 2020² (a 46.4% increase), as reported in our 2022 research snapshot³ on this topic, and an 18.0% increase from 2024.⁴ According to The Office of Homeless Services under the Utah Department of Workforce Services, the number of people who accessed homelessness services in Utah sometime during the year grew 27.2% between 2021 and 2025, from 24,037⁵ to 30,578 individuals.⁶ Homelessness continues to remain a concern for many Utah women and families, and it …

Structured Project Prioritization Process In Higher Education Institutions, Maura Vidal

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study explored structured project prioritization processes within higher education institutions in California to address challenges in resource allocation and alignment with strategic objectives. Guided by general systems theory and a pragmatic research paradigm, the study used a flexible research design with case studies and semi-structured interviews involving project managers, portfolio project managers, and administrators. Thematic analysis revealed three key findings: institutions faced significant challenges in prioritizing projects due to competing stakeholder interests, limited resources, and unstructured decision-making; those using structured prioritization methods, such as multi-criteria decision tools and portfolio reviews, achieved better alignment with strategic goals and reduced …

Infotainment And Youth Political Perceptions In Pakistan: A Qualitative Uses And Gratifications Study, Sara Anwar

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The research presents the problem of infotainment as a media genre and its contribution to the political perceptions, civic behavior, and cultural attitudes of youth in Pakistan. The uses and gratifications theory, situated within the sociopsychological tradition and the transmission model of communication formed the basis of the research where the integration of information and entertainment was viewed as a process that changes the political awareness among the youth. A qualitative exploratory research design was utilized. Twenty-five semi-structured interviews were conducted with students at the university who participated in the study because of purposive selection. NVivo software was used to …

What Once Was Lost, Olivia Black

Masters Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the popular found family trope in literature, to analyze why this craft element has gained popularity within the genre of young adult adventure fiction, and to explore how this literary device is utilized in the first part of the novel 'What Once Was Lost.' This thesis begins with an artist statement, in which the writer explores her background and how she developed an interest in the found family trope. This statement also specifically references the connection between found family and the writer’s creative manuscript. The thesis then shifts to a critical paper …

Military Quality Of Life And Its Impact On Spouses’ Perceived Stress And Marital Satisfaction, Jazmin L. Frett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation research discusses the challenges of military life that can impact the overall quality of life for spouses and how their perspective on the military quality of life can influence depression amongst spouses and their overall marital satisfaction. Military couples endure many military-imposed challenges that affect the quality of life due the demands and nature of military life. The military as a culture can create stress and anxiety for military spouses. Although there may be some resources that the Armed Forces can provide to assist with enriching marriages, it is not apparent of those sources aide in how spouses …

Exploring Spiritual Coping And Anxiety Reduction In Military Personnel Transitioning Through The Meb Process And Undergoing Vocational Training: A Qualitative Approach, Camron L. Rawls

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study examined how transitioning military service members (TMSMs) navigating the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) and the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) used spiritual and vocational resources to manage stress and cope with identity loss. Using an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 participants enrolled in or recently completing the Ch. 31 Veterans Readiness & Employment (VR&E) or another vocational training program. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed through repeated cycles of coding, memoing, and theme development. Six major themes emerged: (1) bureaucratic confusion and identity disruption that increased anxiety and led …

A Phenomenological Study: The Lived Learning Experience Of Learning-Disabled Formerly Incarcerated Individuals With Learning-Based Ptsd Symptoms, Sirsey H. Martinez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived K—12th grade learning experience of formerly incarcerated adults with specific learning disorders (SLDs) and learning-based posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. This study aimed to understand how specific learning disorders affected school learning experiences and obtain input on how to improve learning in schools. A transcendental phenomenological approach was utilized in this qualitative study to obtain and report trustworthy research findings that represented the overall essence of the participants’ lived learning experiences. Ten formerly incarcerated adult males with specific learning disorders and learning-based PTSD symptoms were interviewed. Data was …

The Cultivation Of Resilience: A Phenomenological Study Of Music Teachers’ Experiences Teaching Children With Adverse Childhood Experiences, Angela Dawn Matthews

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological multi-method study examines the lived experiences of music teachers in Virginia and North Carolina working with students who have Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the cultivation of resilience in music students through music ensemble participation. The researcher interviewed music teachers (n = 16) to explore experiences instructing children with ACEs. Music ensemble students (n = 66) and non-music ensemble students (n = 62) completed the ten-item version of the original 25-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the CD-RISC 10. Research questions guiding the study were: How do children with adverse childhood experiences interact and respond in music ensembles? How do …

Utilization And Preparedness Of Physical Therapists For Management Of Migraines In Georgia, Heath B. Martin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative survey experiment was to examine the referral to and utilization of physical therapists in Georgia for assisting with the management of migraine patients, explore the preparedness of Georgia physical therapists to provide evidence-based interventions for migraine patients, and compare the differences between the utilization and preparedness of rural physical therapists and urban physical therapists within the state. The theories guiding this study were the behavioral and biopsychosocial models. The behavioral model demonstrated that individuals' behaviors affect their access to care and perceived need for medical interventions. Due to the demographics of Georgia, characterized by a …

Resolutions, Radio, Razzle Dazzle, Resilience, And Rachamim: An American Initiative For The Jews During The Jewish Refugee Crisis And The Holocaust, Holly Ann Sproule

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Since the 1960s, historians have focused on American inaction during the Holocaust, concluding that the War Refugee Board (WRB) was the definitive involvement of the United States in aiding the Jews in Nazi occupied Europe. Consequently, American aid efforts preceding the creation of the WRB remain unfamiliar and underexplored. By examining the Foreign Relations Diplomatic collections of the Office of the Historian, the databases of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and qualitative research, this dissertation argues that there was a dynamic American initiative in Jewish aid and rescue preceding the War Refugee Board. Through analysis of government and organizational …

Exploring Grief And Loss Experiences In Young Adults Living With Chemical Intolerances, Abby Leanne Steeves

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Individuals with chronic illnesses characterized by chemical intolerances experience symptom- and stigma-related losses within the physical, environmental, occupational, social, and psychological domains of life. A variety of grief responses can come with non-death related, or living, losses such as these. The aim of the present qualitative phenomenological study was to fill a gap in the current literature on grief and loss in this marginalized population by exploring how young adults with chemical intolerances experience grief pertaining to illness-related loss within their unique developmental context and stage of the developmental lifespan. This research was important because young adulthood is marked by …

Designing A Grief Intervention To Address The Religious Problem Of Evil, Charles Lee Burris Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Christian fellowships should have grief ministries. The problem is the Greater Morning Star Baptist Church lacks a clear and practical intervention to support adult congregants coping with grief. The purpose of this DMIN action research project was to equip adult congregants of the Greater Morning Star Baptist Church through a biblically designed grief curriculum that provided training and encouragement to improve quality of life. This DMIN action research project applied qualitative and quantitative methods that included a pre-grief curriculum interview, a pre-grief curriculum survey, a post-grief curriculum focus group, and test assessments (pre-grief curriculum, mid-grief curriculum, and post-grief curriculum) for …

Exploring Long-Term Trauma In Children Following Early Nicu Hospitalization: A Qualitative Study Of Maternal Perspectives, Genee Leniece Francis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are hardships that occur in the life of a child before the age of 18. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of mothers whose child was hospitalized in a NICU during the first 2 months of life, focusing on traumatic injury or long-term trauma symptoms, as evidenced by intellectual delays, emotional regulation issues, or behavioral challenges in children. Purposeful, criterion, and snowball sampling were used to identify English-speaking participants over the age of 22 who served as a primary caretaker of a child currently between the ages of 4 and 11. …

Bridging The Gap: Optimizing Outpatient Care Delivery In Rural Kenya Through A Telemedicine Workflow Training Initiative, Elizabeth K. Bennett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Access to timely, high-quality outpatient care in rural Kenya is constrained by workforce shortages, geographic barriers, and inefficiencies in care delivery. This Doctor of Nursing Practice project evaluated the impact of implementing a structured telemedicine workflow and training program for a regional mission hospital in the highlands of Western Kenya and its satellite outpatient clinic. Guided by the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice, Kotter's Change Theory, and the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance (RE-AIM) framework, the project employed a quasi-experimental, pre-post design, with eight medical providers participating in structured workshops, interactive telemedicine simulations, and workflow integration exercises. Impacts were …

Lived Experiences Of Adoptive Mothers Who Dissolved Their Adoption Of A Child: An Interpretative Phenomenological Study, Aimee Moore Hart

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological analysis research study was to understand the lived experiences of adoptive mothers in the United States who had relinquished their parental rights and legally dissolved their adoption of a child. The theory guiding this study was the theory of being and time. Through the theory of being and time, each adoptive mother was viewed holistically, as inseparable from her personal history, her current state of being, and her interpretations of space and time. This interpretative phenomenological analysis utilized Internet-based, in-depth, individual interviews of adoptive mothers to answer the question: How do adoptive mothers in …

Faith-Based Practices And Health: The Role Of Faith-Based Guided Meditation In Managing Type 2 Diabetes, Willie M. Velasquez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of my study was to investigate how faith-based guided meditation influences health management behaviors and individuals with Type 2 diabetes. Specifically, I examined its effects on glycemic control, stress levels, and emotional well-being. Current diabetes management approaches, such as medication, diet, and exercise, often fail to address psychological and spiritual aspects critical for effective self-management. Grounded in the Biopsychosocial Model of Health, this mixed-method study explored the potential of faith-centered meditation to promote improved self-care behaviors and enhance emotional resilience. The research included a sample size of 40 participants, male and female, ages 18-60, of diverse backgrounds, divided …

Exploring John Maxwell’S 16 Undeniable Laws Of Communication As A Possible Framework For Public Speaking Success: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of The Top 20 Ted Talks And Their Alignment With The Principles, Kevin C. Mcintyre

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The qualitative content analysis aimed to discover whether Maxwell’s 16 undeniable laws of communication are applied to the top 20 TED Talks of all time based on view count catalogued on the TED website and inform a framework for public speaking success. Through the lens of Fisher’s narrative paradigm of coherence and fidelity, while situated in Craig’s rhetorical tradition, which builds on ethos, pathos, and logos, the study examined the gap in workplace competence moving beyond theory to practical guidance. Additionally, the study was guided by three research questions that were answered in the study. Through an immersive multimodal examination …

A Causal-Comparative Examination Of The Impact Of Male And Female Secondary Students' Social Anxiety Enrolled In Blended Courses, Tabitha C. Batts-Turner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to determine if a difference existed in male and female students’ social anxiety scores in the pedagogical approach of blended learning. This study was essential because social anxiety impacted students' quality of life, affecting them long after leaving high school. The ramifications of social issues impacted future earnings, relationships, and psychological well-being; therefore, this study added to the literature on social anxiety and blended learning pedagogy. The sample was comprised of 79 students in blended learning with flipped instructions and 79 enriched virtual. All students were from a rural high school in …

The Mental Health Of Latino Immigrants, Brenda Gallardo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research study explores the daily challenges, coping strategies, and mental health outcomes of undocumented adult Latino immigrants currently residing in the United States of America. The purpose of the research was to address the critical gap in scientific literature regarding the mental health of Latino immigrants residing in the United States. The healthy immigrant effect theory guided the study, which posits that immigrants' health declines the longer they live in a foreign country. Data collection occurred through a qualitative case study design using the first-hand accounts from 18 Latino immigrants residing in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. Each participant …

Predicting Emotional Intelligence Based On Cultural Dimensions And Narcissism Among Military And Educational Leaders, Juan P. Remy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative predictive correlational design study is to examine how well cross-cultural dimensions and narcissistic tendencies predict emotional intelligence among military and educational leaders. This study is important because it will identify how cross-cultural dimensions and narcissistic tendencies influence the emotional intelligence of military and educational leaders. The sample consisted of 90 of 122 military leaders who had attended any professional military education (PME), and 120 educational leaders were recruited from a population of 183 within a military school district in the central United States. The data were collected using the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short Form (TEIQue-SF), …

The Impact Of Instagram Exposure On The Beauty Standards And Body Images Of Young Black American Women, Chiquila Tonelle Arrington

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the phenomenological study was to explore the impact of Instagram exposure on the beauty standards and body image of young Black American women. Drawing from literature highlighting the negative psychological effects of social media, such as comparison, body surveillance, and negative emotions, the research aimed to capture the experiences of Black women navigating beauty ideals in digital communication spaces. The study focused on Instagram because of the visual nature of the content and its alignment with the visual nature of the construct of beauty. The study explored behaviors, intentions, and habits associated with Instagram use.

The research …

A Phenomenological Study Of Homeschooling From A Single Parent Perspective: Pipe Dream Or Possibility?, Sarah C. Ball

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of single parents who chose to homeschool their students in South Florida. The theory guiding this study was Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems. The central research question was focused on how single-parent home educators describe their experience. The methodology used was qualitative, utilizing the following data collection methods: personal interviews, journaling, and focus groups. The participants were single parents — widowed, divorced, or by choice — who chose to homeschool their students in South Florida. Once the data were collected, the analysis included identifying commonalities, recognizing emergent themes, and transcribing …

The Lived Experiences Of Implementing Social-Emotional Learning Competencies In The Classroom Of Teachers In A Southern State: A Phenomenological Study, Lakenya King

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of teachers in a southern state who implemented social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies in the classroom. The study was guided by Goleman's theory of emotional intelligence (EI), which focused on SEL needs and benefits. The central research question was: What are the lived experiences of teachers who implemented SEL competencies in the classrooms in a southern state? This study used a transcendental phenomenological design to gain insight into the phenomenon from 10 teachers in a public district in a southern state who implement SEL competencies in the classroom. …

Methods For The Discovery Of Antibodies Toward Junin Virus Utilizing Yeast Surface Display, Jonathon E. Corral

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The importance of this study is to perform antibody discovery as a means to derive novel preventative and therapeutic antibody countermeasures against the Junín virus, to alleviate the potential risk of a global pandemic. The purpose of this methodological study was to develop a protocol that utilizes yeast surface display to discover antibodies, from naïve human antibody libraries, that can bind the Junín Virus antigen. The methodology of yeast surface display employs the galactose-inducible GAL1 promoter to synthesize and express antibody proteins bound to the Aga2p and Aga1p and anchored to the cell wall by glycosyl phosphatidylinositol motif (GPI). The …