Digital Commons Network^™

Artificial Intelligence Agents And Agentic Systems In Hospitality And Tourism: Challenges, Opportunities And Research Agenda, Yogesh K. Dwivedi, Mohamed Youssef Ibrahim Helal, Ibrahim A. Elgendy, Mousa Ahmed Albashrawi, Laurie Hughes, Mazen Shawosh, Vincent Dutot, Il Jeon

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Artificial intelligence (AI) agents and agentic systems have the potential to transform the tourism and hospitality (T&H) industry by automating existing processes and improving operational efficiency. This viewpoint paper aims to explore and analyze the potential opportunities and challenges, and establish a comprehensive research agenda for developing AI agents and agentic systems within the T&H industry. Design/methodology/approach: This article comprehensively analyzes current literature, user sentiment analysis and market trends assessment on AI agents and agentic systems. It identifies critical areas where these technologies can transform the T&H industries, providing valuable insights into this emerging field and its potential for …

From Perspectival Myopia To Professional Transformation: An Autoethnographic Retrospection Of A High School Principal From Nepal, Shankar Dhakal, Geoffrey W. Lummis, Andrew Jones

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper presents a re-storied account of my (lead author) decade-long (2007–2017) professional journey as a high school principal in diverse educational settings in Nepal. Using an autoethnographic approach, I have theorized my leadership transformation approaches through professional storytelling, employing critical reflexivity to trace intimate leadership experiences where authoritarian approaches to leadership, disparities, and inequalities in schools run rampant. My perspectival myopia, professional vulnerabilities, and the discrepancies between my leadership ideals and behaviors resulted in issues such as perceptions of disengagement, underperformance, and dissatisfaction on the receiving end, prompting me to contemplate professional transformation. While outlining several significant steps and …

Centring The Audience: Attitudes And Behaviours In Australian Arts Organisations, Katya Johanson, Abbie Trott, Mark Taylor, Anne Kershaw, Hilary Glow, Tracy Margieson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Many arts organisations seek to increase the diversity of their audiences. Recent literature suggests that this requires organisations to interrogate and change their ways of operating. This is a fundamental shift for a sector that has long considered the goal of diversifying audiences as a problem external to the organisation. Responding to this discrepancy, this article compares attitudes and behaviours among workers in arts organisations, to identify whether staff see the need to make change and practise the behaviours required. It identifies and uses three organisational capabilities–‘dynamic capabilities’, ‘social networks’ and ‘business improvement processes’–to frame an analysis of a national …

Emancipatory Research In Social Work: What Does Critical Realism Offer?, Shajimon Peter, Lynne Soon Chean Park, Liz Beddoe

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Summary: Critical realism offers a promising philosophical framework for emancipatory research in social work. Emancipatory research recognizes that people experience multiple realities and necessitates an inclusive participatory approach. However, these experiences are shaped by powers inherent in objectively existing structures, systems, and processes that must be identified and addressed for true emancipation. This theoretical article suggests a critical realism-informed methodology for emancipatory social work research. Findings: The critical realist framework acknowledges a stratified ontology and relativist epistemology that recognizes both subjective experiences and objective structures, bridging the subject–object binary created by objectivist and constructivist approaches. This allows for a radical …

Brand Transcendence Through Brand Value Co-Creation Exchanges Within Social Media Craft Beverage Brand Communities, Violetta Wilk, Gilstrap, Darren How

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study explores brand transcendence through brand value co-creation within social media craft beverage brand communities across Instagram and Twitter (now X). Lexical analysis explored a total of 192,330 posts and found brand transcendence evident in the interplay between user-generated content (UGC) and brand-generated content (BGC) across social media platforms, which co-created brand value through the processes of sharing virtual cues within social media craft beverage communities. This brand transcendence was enhanced through the sharing of personal experiences and unique brand moments. BGC across both platforms showcased themes of brand affinity, the importance of time in brand experiences, gratitude, and …

Non-Pharmacological Sleep Interventions For Dementia Caregivers: A Systematic Review Of Randomized Controlled Trials, Aisling Smyth, Lambert, Mark Jenkins, Adugnaw Zeleke Alem, Misganaw Gebrie Worku, Sujatha Shanmugasundaram

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Caregivers of people living with dementia frequently report poor sleep. This systematic review describes evidence from randomised controlled trials of non-pharmacological sleep interventions for dementia carers. Methods: A systematic search of major databases was undertaken. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane ROB 2.0 tool. Narrative synthesis followed Synthesis Without Meta-analysis (SWiM) guidelines due to substantial heterogeneity. Findings: Eighteen articles were included. Risk of Bias analyses revealed most studies had high overall risk of bias, primarily from selection of reported result bias. Interventions comprised of five categories: sleep-promoting, carer well-being, exercise, technology-based and complementary therapy. High variability between …

The Factors Influencing Organisational Responsiveness For Sustainable Projects, Richard Hughes, Bradley Baker

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: This study investigates how organisations respond to sustainability when it becomes a central strategic priority, particularly through project environments. The research seeks to understand the factors influencing organisational responsiveness to sustainability imperatives in projects, addressing a key gap in sustainable project management literature. Design/methodology/approach: The study employed a thematic meta-synthesis of qualitative case studies from multiple countries and different economic sectors. Using grounded theory, data were coded to identify first-order concepts, second-order themes and aggregate dimensions, culminating in the development of a conceptual model of dynamic adaptation. Findings: The analysis revealed three interrelated dimensions that shape organisational responsiveness: strategic …

Contacto, Identidad Y Convergencia: El Español Dominicano En Puerto Rico, Ricardo Estremera-Marcial

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

El presente estudio analiza el contacto dialectal entre el español dominicano y el puertorriqueño en Puerto Rico. Se trata de explicar el encuentro de dos variedades cercanas del español dentro de un mismo espacio monolingüe, pero con valoraciones sociales distintas. En particular, se examina el grado de convergencia que resulta de ese contacto en el caso de la articulación de la /s/ en posición final de sílaba, junto con la convergencia léxica y el papel de las actitudes lingüísticas en la construcción de la identidad.

Para llevar a cabo esta investigación se combinaron métodos cuantitativos y cualitativos. Se trabajó con …

Advancing Data Extraction Workflows For Single-Case Design Meta-Analysis Using Large Language Models, Yaosheng Lou

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Single-case experimental designs (SCEDs) are a form of longitudinal research that is particularly valuable for studying marginalized and underrepresented populations. Meta-analysis plays an essential role in synthesizing evidence across studies and enhancing the generalizability of findings. However, as interest in SCEDs grows and the evidence base expands, conducting meta-analyses has become increasingly labor-intensive and time-consuming. This dissertation addresses these challenges by examining the applicability of large language models (LLMs) for data extraction and meta-analytic dataset compilation in the context of SCED meta-analysis. Because LLM performance is influenced by model selection, prompt design, and the specific materials being extracted, this dissertation …

Exploring Mathematics Texts In A Further Education College, Rajdulari Pettitt

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

Learning mathematics is a challenge for many learners in Further Education. It is also a requirement since Government policy stipulates that Further Education (FE) learners in England, who have achieved a General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Mathematics grade 3 or lower, are required to continue studying this subject alongside their vocational courses. As a core subject, mathematics includes numbers, shapes, patterns and statistics with progression generally from concrete to abstract form; mathematics texts include specific vocabulary such as probability trees and procedures such as calculations using decimals. Engagement with mathematics has been shown to be related to motivation, confidence …

‘The Limits Of The Landscape: A Critical Examination Of Outdoor Learning, Self-Regulation, And Semh Within Neoliberal Schooling’, Nicola Clayton

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

This doctoral thesis critically examines a specialised outdoor learning intervention for primary pupils with significant Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs who are at risk of exclusion. It assesses the intervention’s implementation and its efficacy in supporting these pupils' capacity for self-regulation and stress management.The study is situated amidst escalating global child mental health concerns and recent English educational policy shifts that mandate schools to actively foster pupil well-being. Exploring outdoor education as a widely cited approach for promoting positive mental health, this research engages with established social theories, particularly those of Bernstein and Bourdieu, to critique the wider …

Errors And Misconceptions In Mathematics Teacher Retraining: An Investigation Of Subject Knowledge Enhancement Course Results, Gabor Szalontai

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

This thesis investigates the subject knowledge capabilities and deficiencies of teachers who wished to enter or return to secondary mathematics teaching and took part in the Subject Knowledge Enhancement Plus programme. It focuses on the proportions, types and causes of their mistakes, as well as their potential for development and the possibility of increasing their awareness of errors.The study uses recorded responses of 1602 participants from the online assessment of the courses, which ran across England. The assessment, covering the entire secondary curriculum and consisting of 643 questions, provided an interactive, multiple-attempt design allowing the investigation of the participants’ results …

"Tell Me About Your Esol Experience": Exploring Language Journeys Through Shared Stories, Rocio Rivero-Gutierrez

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

This thesis explores the English language learning experiences of ESOL(English for Speakers of Other Languages) participants from southern Spain, examining the interplay between language acquisition, cultural adaptation, andidentity transformation. Grounded in my own ESOL journey — shaped both inSpain and through immersion in an English-speaking context — the studyinvestigates how participants assign meaning to their L2 engagement acrossdiverse social settings, and how English becomes a tool for bothcommunication and personal reinvention. The research adopts a qualitative, narrative-based methodology. The datawere generated through in-depth interviews, small group discussions, andreflective journal entries with nine adult participants, all native Spanishspeakers. Crucially, the data …

Exploring The Reading Motivation And Reading Experiences Of Secondary School Students With Dyslexia In England, Ahmet Kaan Alper

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

This research examines how a small group of secondary school students with dyslexia in England make sense of their reading experiences and motivation to read across school, home and everyday settings. It responds to concerns that literacy policy and practice foreground accuracy, speed and comparison, leaving limited space for reading for pleasure on students’ own terms. Drawing on Michel Foucault’s concepts, the study treats dyslexia and literacy as historically and institutionally produced categories and explores how discourses, norms and accountability regimes shape what counts as legitimate reading and a motivated reader. The research is grounded in a relativist ontology and …

Designing An Interactive Digital Storytelling Tool To Enhance Key Stage 3 English Literacy: A Design-Based Research Study, Byung Jae Park

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

Although digital storytelling has transformative potential for language learning, its integration into Key Stage 3 (KS3) education remains unexplored. This thesis explores this topic by developing and evaluating an Interactive Storybook prototype designed for 11–14-year-old learners in a UK educational context.Using an interdisciplinary methodology that combines design-based research, the Delphi approach and constructivist grounded theory, this study involved three groups of experts – academic experts, practising educators and EdTech professionals – across three iterative development cycles. While the prototype was designed specifically for Key Stage 3 learners, the study employed a design appraisal approach instead of classroom piloting, with learner …

Navigating The Digital Shift In Mozambique: Teacher Agency And Digital Learning In Schools, Clive Ruraca

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

The educational technology industry frequently promotes the idea of a significant paradigm shift, proposing that technology can supplant traditional, transmission-based pedagogies such as ‘tell and practice’ approaches. In theory, this perspective positions digital tools as catalysts for systemic educational reform, capable of replacing rote learning with dynamic, technology-supported models (Voogt et al., 2013; Wang et al., 2024; Casilli & Posada, 2019). Employing an interpretative, empirical methodology, involving questionnaires and interviews with secondary school teachers. Data from this study are used to explore teachers’ experiences with digital learning tools through the lens of Activity Theory. This study examines the digital shift …

Parental Knowledge And Prevention Perspectives On Hpv, Patti Bell, Roshida Dixon, Marnie Gill, Adrianna Hendrix, Anna Mathis Larson, Briana Quinn

MSN Research Projects

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide and is responsible for many preventable cancers (Braaten & Laufer, 2008; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2025). Even though a safe and effective vaccine is available, HPV vaccination rates remain lower than desired because of ongoing misinformation, limited knowledge, and parental hesitancy (Aninye et al., 2021; Beavis et al., 2022; Petagna et al., 2024). Since the vaccine is recommended during childhood and adolescence, parents play a major role in the decision to vaccinate (Park et al., 2023; Lopez et al., 2022). The purpose of this study was to …

The Role Of Leadership Communication In Shaping Employee Engagement: A Case Study Of Supervalu Talbot Street, Dublin, Elizabeth Montserrat Ibarra Arteaga

Business ETD Collections

Employee engagement is one of the key determinants of organisational performance, especially in labour-intensive industries, such as grocery retail. This paper will focus on how leadership communication contributes to the creation of employee engagement in SuperValu Talbot Street, Dublin. The study uses the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model and social exchange theory to examine the roles of communication practices and their use as a significant resource in employee motivation and workplace experience. The qualitative case study approach was embraced where semi-structured interviews were carried out with four managers and seven frontline employees. The results indicate that the clarity of communication, feedback …

Student Representation In Classroom Libraries: Teachers’ Influences And Reflections, Yaoeun Lieu

Education Dissertations

Classroom libraries are a staple within a classroom. They house books which students have access to and are used for various reasons such as independent reading practice, partner reading, and for read alouds. The student population in the United States is growing more diverse with every passing year. The purpose of this study is to research whether K-2 students in Washington are proportionately represented within their classroom libraries, to examine the factors teachers take into consideration when purchasing books for their classroom library, and to investigate how those factors change after their classroom libraries are audited and placed in context …

Multimodal Representation Learning For Face Understanding: From Caption Supervision To Foundation Model Adaptation, Md Mahedi Hasan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The rapid advancement of intelligent surveillance systems and the increasing demand for reliable biometric identification in border security, public safety, and digital forensics require robust face understanding under unconstrained conditions, including low resolution, pose variation, and occlusion. While Vision Transformer (ViT)-based foundation models have greatly improved visual representation learning, their patch-based tokenization and lack of spatial inductive bias limit their ability to capture fine-grained details in low-resolution inputs. This dissertation investigates multimodal representation learning for face understanding through natural language supervision, large-scale face-caption pre-training, and parameter-efficient foundation model adaptation. It hypothesizes that textual supervision provides complementary semantic cues that improve …

Still The Same Daughter, Still Your Friend: How Social Media Enables Role Continuity In Transnational Relationships, Sahar Abedikedenji

Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Scoring Equitable Transit: A Data-Driven Framework For Affordable Transit-Oriented Development In California, Ahoura Zandiatashbar, Anton Rozhkov, Stephanie Nemet, Atticus Washington, Mounashree Prasanna

Mineta Transportation Institute

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is a cornerstone of California’s climate and land use policy, promising walkable, compact neighborhoods near high-quality transit. However, these benefits are not always distributed equitably. This study introduces a scalable framework for identifying and scoring Affordable Transit-Oriented Development (A-TOD) across the state’s High-Quality Transit Areas (HQTAs). The goal is to equip policymakers, planners, and housing agencies with tools to evaluate station areas based on their physical form, affordability, and equity outcomes. Using a 1.5-mile network-based pedestrian buffer around over 66,000 transit stations, the research team developed a three-stage clustering and scoring system. Station areas were classified by …

Poster Presentation: Language And Educational Equity: Understanding The Unequal Opportunities Of Minority Language Learners In Multilingual Societies, Yiwei Guo

Holmes Scholars Collection

No abstract provided.

“America Is For Americans Only”: Journalistic Professionalism, Populism, And Latino Ethnic Media In The 2024 U.S. Presidential Election, Maria Villarroel

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines how journalistic professionalism shaped news coverage of Latino-related issues during the 2024 U.S. presidential election across mainstream and Latino ethnic media outlets. In a polarized political environment, immigration and the “Latino vote” were not only central campaign issues but also sites of radicalized rhetoric that frequently targeted Latino communities and journalists. In this context, journalists were tasked with reporting on highly contentious, hostile narratives while adhering to professional norms. This study argues that these norms influenced how journalists selected, framed, and contextualized political rhetoric, and how media coverage further elevated immigration and Latino communities as key electoral …

Do You Walk On By? The Effects Of Donor Fatigue On Willingness To Donate, Shawn Michael Henry

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Donation solicitation literature validates the successful usage of various solicitation tactics that lead to achieving set donation goals for their associated cause. Yet, while the financial success of “checkout charity” is well-documented, a significant gap remains regarding the impact of high-frequency solicitations on long-term consumer-brand relationship. This research addresses this gap. Over the span of three surveys, this study finds that donation request frequency overall erodes donation likelihood through donor fatigue when donation frequency changes (occasional vs. always). However, this relationship is moderated by the perceived consumer base, with a larger perceived consumer base exacerbating the “diffusion of responsibility.” Further, …

Ideology And Iconography In Gustav Machatý’S Ecstasy (1933), Karl E. Toepfer

Open Educational Resources

This essay discusses the cinematic construction of sexual ecstatic experience in Gustav Machaty's 1933 film Ecstasy. Sergei Eisenstein's theory of cinematic montage governs the shapes the way the filmmakers organize the representation of erotic desire and rapture. But the film also shows affinity with the Czech "Poetist" movement of the 1920s in constructing a guiding view of ecstatic experience. The essay analyzes many images in the film, and concludes with an application of montage theory of ecstatic cinema to the consumption of erotic videos and internet imagery.

Use Of Generative Ai In Scholarly Research: Challenges And Opportunities, Marco Marabelli, Robert M. Davison, Giovanni Gatti, Ankita Srivastava, Monideepa Tarafdar

Computer Information Systems Faculty Publications

The focus of this panel report is to present evidence of a panel discussion that took place in October 2025 on the use of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) in academic research and publishing. The panel included publishers (Elsevier, Emerald, Gailot Press, MIT Press, Nature/Springer, Wiley) and editors in chief (representing the Information Systems Journal, Journal of the AIS, Journal of Data Science and ICES Journal of Marine Science). Key outcomes of the panel are the following: 1) publishers and editors have some disagreements regarding GAI use; 2) besides disagreements, all recognize that GAI is here to stay, therefore outstanding issues …

Interpreting Anti-Boycott Laws In The Shadow Of The First Amendment, Joseph A. Tomain

Articles by Maurer Faculty

Thirty-eight states have enacted “anti-BDS” laws. These laws require people or entities doing business with the state to certify that they do not participate in the Boycott Divestment Sanction movement against Israel. Typically, these laws define boycott as a “refusal to deal, terminating business, or other actions” that limit commercial relations with Israel or Israeli entities. It is highly contested in the courts and commentary whether these anti-boycott laws violate the First Amendment. Assuming arguendo that the “refusal to deal” and “terminating business” clauses do not implicate the First Amendment, that leaves the residual clause. At least one court and …

Leveraging Funds Of Knowledge And Funds Of Identity: Exploring Equitable Strategies For Diverse Classroom Settings, Evana Nusrat Dooty

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study explores how elementary teachers in the U.S. perceive and incorporate students’ Funds of Knowledge (FoK) and Funds of Identity (FoI) to promote equity in diverse classroom settings. A review of literature highlights the significance of culturally responsive pedagogy, FoK & FoI frameworks, and equity-oriented teaching practices. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect participants’ perspectives on leveraging students’ home and community knowledge in instructional planning and classroom interactions. Lesson plans were collected from all participants to get idea about how they could utilize  FoK and FoI approach in their classroom instruction. The findings highlight the need for teacher preparation …

Exploring Chinese Students’ Lived Experiences And Perceived Development In A Structured Cross-Cultural International Collaborative Degree Program: A Qualitative Case Study In The Context Of The Wvu–Tufe 3+1 Collaborative Program, Zhongmin Zhao

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this qualitative case study is to examine the lived experiences and perceived development of Chinese students within the structured 3+1 cross-cultural international collaborative program. Grounded in Schlossberg’s Transition Theory and Chickering’s Seven Vectors of Identity Development Framework and guided by the four theoretical propositions, this study explores how the Chinese students experience the challenging transition from their home institution to the host institution, how the students participating in the program perceive their developmental growth across multiple developmental dimensions, and how the students perceive the program structures and institutional practices as supporting or hindering their development.

Data were …