Digital Commons Network^™

The Librarian Teaching Self-Efficacy Scale, Maoria J. Kirker, David X. Lemmons

Communications in Information Literacy

Teaching self-efficacy is a critical factor in instructional success. Little research has been conducted on how academic librarians perceive their own teaching abilities. This study introduces and validates the Librarian Teaching Self-Efficacy Scale, a tool designed to measure self-efficacy beliefs among academic librarians engaged in information literacy instruction. By adapting established self-efficacy scales to the library instruction context, this study examines key factors influencing librarian teaching self-efficacy, including instructional strategies, lesson planning, and collaboration with faculty. Collective self-efficacy, which is perceptions of colleagues’ teaching confidence, is also examined. Statistical analysis indicates a reliable and valid scale which may benefit …

Reliability Analysis Of In-Person And Virtual Goniometric Measurements For Select Shoulder And Forearm Motions, Autumn Whitson, Tracy Cook, Lisa Middleton, Casey E. Humphrey, Aaron D. Sciascia

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Background Previous research on upper extremity range of motion has compared in-person to virtual measures for sagittal plane motions (flexion/extension) showing good-excellent reliability. Since upper extremity evaluation includes motion in all planes, it is important to assess whether transverse plane motion (rotation, supination, pronation) can be reliably measured during a virtual assessment. Purpose To evaluate the reliability (test/re-test inter-rater and intra-rater) of goniometric measurements of shoulder internal rotation and forearm pronation/supination obtained in-person and virtually. Study Design Observational cohort, Reliability study Methods Subjects 18-60 years of age with no upper extremity injuries were recruited for range of motion (ROM) testing …

The Personality Profile Of U.S. Vice President Jd Vance, Aubrey Immelman, Logan Butler

Psychology Faculty Publications

This paper presents the results of an indirect personality assessment of U.S. vice president JD Vance, from the conceptual perspective of personologist Theodore Millon.

Psychodiagnostically relevant data relating to Vance were collected from biographical sources and media reports and synthesized into a personality profile using the Millon Inventory of Diagnostic Criteria (MIDC), which yields 34 normal and maladaptive personality classifications congruent with DSM-III-R, DSM-IV, and DSM-5-TR.

The personality profile yielded by the MIDC was analyzed in accordance with interpretive guidelines provided in the MIDC and Millon Index of Personality Styles manuals. Vance’s primary personality patterns were found …

December 2025 News Releases, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations

University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present

No abstract provided.

An Evaluation Of Noncontingent Reinforcement And Additional Treatment Components In The Treatment Of Stereotypic Behavior, Stephanie Nicole Brand

Theses and Dissertations

Individuals with autism often engage in stereotypic behavior that competes with learning and social skills. Behavior analytic treatment may be implemented to reduce stereotypy. Noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) is one treatment that is often effective to reduce stereotypy. However, literature suggests that the use of NCR is contraindicated in some circumstances, as it may compete with the acquisition of new skills or may increase subsequent persistence of stereotypy. This research was designed to expand our knowledge of potential limitations of NCR when combined with other treatments. Study one examined persistence of stereotypy following treatment with NCR with and without response blocking. …

Conflict Management: Values-Based Training Effects On Shifts In Strategy Preference Among Formerly Incarcerated Individuals, Candace Renae Fay

Theses and Dissertations

Problem-solving refers to a behavior evoked by a problem in which the behaver manipulates, supplements, and consequently, generates discriminative stimuli (SD) that they subsequently respond to (Donahoe & Palmer, 2004; Skinner, 1957, 1968). The use of problem-solving when faced with interpersonal conflict reflects pro-social behavior patterns, while providing a learning opportunity for identifying relevant variables and contingencies, and possible reductions of extended conflict or escalation in anti-social behavior patterns. Patterns of preference can be identified following multiple opportunities, given an array of options, resulting in consistency of choice responses (Martin, 2006). When less prosocial (avoiding, yielding), or antisocial (forcing) conflict …

Caring For Caregivers: Fostering Empathetic Educational Practices Among Undergraduate Nursing Faculty, Karlee Hedrick

DNP Projects

BACKGROUND: Trauma is highly prevalent among nursing students, and unrecognized responses to that trauma can negatively impact learning, psychological safety, and academic performance (Doughty, 2020). Although trauma-informed care (TIC) principles are described in clinical settings, its use in undergraduate nursing programs remains limited. Faculty often lack formal TIC training, reducing their ability to support students with lived traumatic experiences. TIC education can improve awareness, responsiveness, and educator confidence (Bosse et al., 2021; Doughty, 2020; MacLochlainn et al., 2022). This project aimed to improve faculty knowledge and explore attitudinal shifts following a structured TIC educational intervention.

METHODS: Two Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles …

The Impact Of Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) And Benevolent Childhood Experiences (Bces) On The Physical And Mental Health Of African American Veterans, Lenorris Edward Hughes

Dissertations

This dissertation examines the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Benevolent Childhood Experiences (BCEs) on the physical and mental health of African American veterans. Although a large body of research has documented the long-term health consequences of early adversity, there remains limited empirical work focusing specifically on African American veterans and the potentially protective role of BCEs. This study addresses that gap by investigating whether ACEs and BCEs are predictive of physical health conditions, behavioral health patterns, and mental health outcomes in this population.The research utilized data from the 2021–2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), focusing on a …

Integrating Cognitive And Visual Scanning Strategies In Flight Instruction: Effects On Student Pilots’ Learning During Approach And Landing, Hyungwoo Jo

Theses and Dissertations

This interdisciplinary study employed a convergent parallel mixed-methods design to advance innovation in aviation education by incorporating eye tracking technology with enhanced performance traceability through visual modeling and comparative feedback. Specifically, the study investigated student pilots’ scanning behavior, cognitive strategies, and proficiency development on a normal approach and landing task by modeling flight instructors’ cognitive behavior. The first research phase revealed statistically significant differences in scanning ratios between 10 flight instructors and 10 student pilots along with substantial performance variation. The result showed that student pilots exhibited excessive outside fixation, often failing to monitor or respond to energy management in …

Supporting Career Navigation With An Online Occupational Information-Sharing Platform, Jay W. Rojewski, Janette R. Hill, Eunice Kim, Sejung Kwon, Linda Mccauley, Ikseon Choi

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

Rapid changes to the nature of work and the workplace have shifted responsibility for career success from organizations to individual workers. Successful navigation of one’s career requires a proactive perspective where individuals anticipate training needs and make decisions for achieving both short- and long-term career goals. Relevant and accurate occupational information is an essential component of career success; yet few sources of reliable and targeted information exist for adult workers. This article provides a conceptual overview of an online system (eMPACT) that provides personalized occupational information for selected health care professionals. The contributions and benefits of key stakeholders—employees, trainers, employers—in …

Employers’ Perceptions Of Workplace Readiness Skills, Tabitha S. Young, Natalie K. Ferand

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

Employability skills are continually changing, and the workforce provides the transparency needed for the success of business employment. Workplace readiness skills and human capital theory form the backbone for organizational success and sustainability. This study examined employers’ perceptions of workplace readiness skills at the expected proficiency level of an entry-level employee, the average level of skill for an entry-level employee, and the level of importance of the skill to their industry. The Virginia Workplace Readiness Skills have impacted employers and prepared students for the workplace. The results indicated that the workplace readiness skills mentioned in the literature align with the …

Reported Value Of Culturally Responsive Teaching Practices Of Virginia Agricultural Education Teachers, Natalie K. Ferand, Kendrick Spencer, Bradley Bowen

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

To address the increasing diversity in schools and the monolithic culture of teachers, researchers have called for pedagogies that reflect the diverse and pluralistic identities of students. While core academic areas have long adopted culturally relevant pedagogy, school-based agricultural education (SBAE) has lagged behind. This study aimed to determine the views of agricultural education teachers in Virginia on culturally responsive pedagogy dispositions and identify areas of professional development need. Teachers valued the differences among students and the communities in which their schools are located. However, results revealed a need for professional development in using the local community as a resource …

Online Experiential Learning In Career And Technical Education, Matthew Bornak

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

This scoping review investigates the integration of OEL into Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. Using Arksey and O’Malley’s five-step scoping review framework, articles were identified through ERIC and Google Scholar and managed in Zotero. MAXQDA was used for coding, revealing thematic clusters related to modalities (synchronous, asynchronous, hybrid), technologies (LMS, AR/VR, simulation tools), and learner characteristics (nontraditional students, CTE-specific learning styles). The review highlights the conceptual anchors of Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory, Carver et al.’s Experiential E-Learning Model, and Baasanjav’s online experiential design. Findings reveal that while OEL in CTE remains underexplored, it offers potential to increase accessibility, inclusivity, …

An Exploration Of The Implementation Of Social-Emotional Lessons In The Secondary Music Ensemble Classroom, Neva Rowland

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) impacts student relationships with themselves, others, and the world around them. The researcher sought to determine the presence, level of awareness, and implementation of social and emotional lessons within the context of music education in 3A or smaller high school bands in Kansas.

An electronic survey questionnaire was emailed in October 2025 to 208 music educators, inviting them to participate. The Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) provided the list of band directors at a 3A or smaller high schools. Thirteen participants responded in detail about their observations and opinions regarding SEL in their band ensemble …

Closing The Gap: Educational Research On Secondary Traumatic Stress In The Healthcare Workplace, Natalie Noel Tracy

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Secondary traumatic stress (STS) is a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) like phenomenon characterized by biological, emotional, and psychosocial symptoms resulting from direct exposure to someone’s traumatic experience frequently occurring in caring-based work environment. First defined in 1995 by Charles Figley, STS is classified using the same categories as PTSD: Avoidance, hyperarousal, and intrusion. Avoidance consists of numbness to or lack of participation in usual interests and avoidance of triggers that serve as reminders of the indirect trauma experienced. Hyperarousal occurs when a person becomes highly alert or has a “fight or flight” response to a triggering experience related to a …

Physical Therapy Direct Access To Unrestricted Access In The State Of Michigan- Is Michigan Ready To Embrace Change? A Policy Analysis, Erica M. Fernandes, Mary D. Lagerwey, Kieran Fogarty

Michigan Journal of Public Health

Michigan’s Direct Access Provision of 2015 (Enrolled Senate Bill No. 690, 201), which aimed to increase patient access to physical therapy and reduce waiting times, has created hurdles for patient access and for physical therapy as an autonomous profession. The purposes of this policy analysis were: 1) to analyze the Direct Access (DA) policy including examining existing challenges resulting from implementation, 2) provide recommendations for implementing an alternative policy, and 3) outline the benefits of the alternative policy. The DA policy with provisions was examined using the Patton and Sawicki (1993) framework, which provides a basic approach that …

Associations Between Food Insecurity And Gpa Among Full-Time California State University Undergraduates During Covid-19: The Impact Of Mental Health, Lindsey Jones

Master's Theses

Food insecurity is a persistent public health concern among college students that has been associated with student’s academic and mental health outcomes. This thesis examined the associations between food insecurity, academic performance (measured by GPA) and mental health (using Kessler 6 psychological distress and self-perceived mental health impacts on academic performance), among full-time undergraduate students within the California State University (CSU) system. Cross-sectional analyses were conducted using data from the Spring 2021 CSU National College Health Assessment, administered across all 23 campuses. Of the 20,167 respondents, 12,899 students were included in the analytical sample. Bivariate analyses were conducted to analyze …

Educational Ai Agents In Vr, Jake Eichenseer

Graphic Communication

AI powered educational agents are programs that are capable of interpreting their environment and then making decisions based on that (Cordova-Esparza, 2025). Agentic programs like these can be helpful in an educational setting because they can be used to provide personalized feedback to students, assist instructors with grading, and adapt learning materials in real time to match each student’s progress. However, there are a multitude of concerns raised by agentic programs as well, causing experts to consider the ethical implications of integrating them into school curricula. The Cal Poly Graphic Communication Department wanted to study how participants would respond when …

Beyond The Mozart Effect: How Musical Experience And Emotional Response Shape Individual Differences In Spatial Reasoning, Connor Watkinson

Theses

Research on the Mozart effect (the short-term enhancement of spatial-temporal reasoning after music listening) has yielded inconsistent results, often due to overlooking individual differences and using limited stimuli. This study examined multiple musical conditions (popular lyrical, classical, and white noise control) while considering the moderating roles of musical experience and the mediating influence of emotional responses. Undergraduate participants (N = 162) completed spatial reasoning assessments before and after an eight-minute listening session, alongside measures of musical background, listening habits, mood, and music-evoked emotions.Analyses revealed no overall difference in spatial reasoning improvement between music and white noise conditions. However, substantial individual …

Promoting Self-Reflection And Implicit Bias Awareness In Nursing: A Mixed-Method Study Advancing Practice And Fostering Healthcare Equality, Diane S. Kramer, Victoria Y. Mccue, Anshul Saxena, Jeanette B. Deniz, Nicole Burks, Patricia Russell

Nursing & Health Sciences Research Journal

Background: Implicit biases influence how nurses perceive and interact with patients and shape clinical practice. Awareness is crucial because implicit biases are difficult to detect. Our study evaluated how educational sessions impacted awareness and understanding of implicit bias. In our study, we sought to mitigate effects of these biases on patient care to promote equitable healthcare outcomes.

Methods: The research involved registered nurses from all levels employed at nine hospitals. Data were collected anonymously through voluntary participation to ensure confidentiality. A mixed-methods approach with a quasi-experimental prepost design was utilized to measure the effectiveness of the educational session. Descriptive statistics …

The Role Of Sex And Genetic Background In Early Life Stress Effects On Locus Coeruleus Physiology And Related Cognitive And Affective Behaviors, Savannah Grace Brannan

Dissertations

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have been associated with many neurodevelopmental and affective disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), with more exposures increasing negative risks. Sex and genetic background are biological variables involved in adverse psychiatric outcomes due to ACE exposure(s). Few preclinical studies have properly powered each sex to determine the interaction between sex and genetics on stress-impacting behavior, especially in early life. Females generally have an increased prevalence of stress-related psychopathologies beginning after adolescence, indicative of the adolescent time period as a female-specific sensitive period. To understand the underlying neuronal components responsible for …

Retrospectively Examining The Probability Of Acute Skin Failure Among Hospitalized Patients With Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries, Tori C. Hatch, Jeanine M. Salamone, Pierna F. Vaughner, Natalie Bermudez

Nursing & Health Sciences Research Journal

Introduction: Acute skin failure (ASF) in hospitalized patients is a growing concern and a product of multisystem organ failure. Unlike hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs), ASF is not preventable despite prevention measures. The Skin Failure Clinical Indicator Scale (SFCIS) was recently developed to assess the probability of ASF. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively examine the probability of and factors associated with ASF in hospitalized individuals with HAPIs.

Methods: Data were collected from the electronic health records of in-patients with stage 3 or greater HAPIs over two years. Collection included demographics, comorbidities, COVID status, wound staging, injury location, SFCIS, …

The Constitution And Online Exams: A New Fourth Amendment Take On Ogletree V. Cleveland State University, Arthur Benne

Penn State Law Review (2003 - Present)

No abstract provided.

"That's How It Is On This Bitch Of An Earth": The Possibilities, Pitfalls, And Potential Of References To Waiting For Godot In Judicial Opinions, Ben Phillips

Penn State Law Review (2003 - Present)

No abstract provided.

Solving The Puppy Mill Problem: Using "Carrots And Sticks" To Encourage Compliance With The Animal Welfare Act, Ashlyn Browning

Penn State Law Review (2003 - Present)

No abstract provided.

Parenting While Mad: Altered States, Carceral Psychiatry, And The Fight For Abolitionist Access, Stefanie Lyn Kaufman-Mthimkhulu

Journal of Law and Policy

Legal and psychiatric systems respond to parents in distress-oriented altered states (often labeled “postpartum psychosis”) in ways that reveal deep structural failures. Rather than providing genuine care, these states are criminalized, pathologized, and met with coercive treatment, family separation, and surveillance. Drawing on Silvia Federici’s Caliban and the Witch, this article traces these systems to the rise of colonial-capitalist-patriarchy, when land was enclosed, reproductive labor weaponized, and community healing knowledge expropriated. Clinical mental health and family regulation systems continue this legacy today, punishing Madness, disempowering caregivers, and undermining community capacity to respond to distress. The author examines cases of postpartum …

Do You Feel The Power? Affinity Spaces For Black Male Principals, Wallace Cobbs

All Dissertations

This qualitative study explores the experiences of Black male principals by examining how affinity spaces provide essential support in facing the challenges of school leadership. Using semi-structured interviews and a focus group, the research investigates how these spaces influence principals’ self-efficacy as they manage racial microaggressions, systemic barriers, and professional isolation. The findings show that affinity spaces help build confidence, encourage professional growth, and support personal well-being. By connecting self-efficacy theory to the real-life experiences of Black male principals, this study adds to the conversation on equity in education and the need for meaningful, culturally-relevant support systems.

School Discipline Bylaws In Egypt: An Analysis Of The Framing Of Children’S Rights In Education (2014–2024), Noha Ekram Hassan

All Dissertations

This study investigates how Egypt’s School Discipline Bylaws (SDB), issued between 2014 and 2024, construct the language of discipline, children’s rights, and school governance. Using a Corpus-Assisted Critical Discourse Analysis (CADA) combined with interpretive Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), the research identifies child-rights terminology within the five Bylaw versions, examines its relationship to the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and traces how these linguistic patterns change over time. The analysis also explores the discursive framing of discipline, sanctions, and agency, alongside a rubric-based evaluation of the SDB’s alignment with CRC principles of protection, participation, and …

The Influence Of Using Bibliotherapy And Cinematherapy Interventions On The Social-Emotional Competencies Of Middle School Students Identified As Gifted, Debra P. Wallace

All Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Adolescents encounter many stressors in their lives and need resources to help them navigate their challenges. Access to books and movies may help gifted middle school students find ways to cope with various stressors characteristic of gifted students. Bibliotherapy and cinematherapy interventions effectively offer gifted students emotional support for their mental, social, and academic struggles, since gifted students tend to avoid asking for help. In a rural southeastern town, a 2-month improvement science study included a Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle with gifted eighth graders. From December 2024 to January 2025, gifted students participated in an intervention program using bibliotherapy and cinematherapy …

Adoption Of The 4-H Thriving Model Of Positive Youth Development:A Case-Centered Examination Of 4-H Agents, Patricia Whitener

All Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Youth development professionals working in non-formal educational settings face the persistent challenge of translating evidence-based frameworks into effective practice. This explanatory sequential mixed-methods study examines how South Carolina 4-H agent/educators perceive and adopt the 4-H Thriving Model following mandatory statewide training. The study investigates the roles of professional identity, change readiness, and organizational factors in shaping innovation adoption decisions among Extension professionals who work with considerable autonomy within diverse community contexts.

The 4-H Thriving Model represents a comprehensive theory of change that connects program practices to the developmental processes that influence youth outcomes (Arnold and Gagnon, 2019). The model …