Digital Commons Network^™

Connection Over Convention: Promoting Collaboration Between Communication Centers And Foundational Communication Courses To Support Student Diversity And Inclusive Practices, Laura Stengrim, Miranda N. Rouse, Elizabeth Reeves O'Connor

Basic Communication Course Annual

Foundational communication courses and communication centers have the opportunity to work in tandem to better help students. Communication centers serve as a hub for students to receive help with their oral communication skills, serving students enrolled in foundational communication courses and across disciplines. As foundational communication course instructors and administrators adjust to changing student demographics and expectations, communication centers can take the lead in promoting inclusive practices by providing resources, professional development, and guidance to instructors, students, and the wider academic community, thus letting go of traditional approaches to promote more innovative practices that stem from collaboration between communication courses …

Using Public Narrative In The Basic Course, Jenifer Goblish, Mark Fokken, Ben Walker

Basic Communication Course Annual

Higher education is rapidly changing and in order to survive instructors need to meet students where they are; this means rethinking and challenging some of the traditional approaches to public speaking in the Basic Communication Course (BCC). This essay outlines how the authors implemented a new assignment in their BCC based on Marshall Ganz’s concept of the Public Narrative. The authors explain their approach and review the benefits and challenges of implementing the Public Narrative into their BCC.

Is Seeing Believing? Comparing Students’ Mediated Social Learning About Public Speaking Anxiety Using Audio-Only Or Audio-Visual Instruction, Peter B. Gregg

Basic Communication Course Annual

This study examines how mediated instruction affects public speaking anxiety (PSA), self-efficacy, and motivation. Grounded in social cognitive and multimedia learning theories, 137 students viewed or listened to a brief lecture on PSA control. Results showed significant improvements in self-efficacy, reduced PSA, and increased motivation, with no significant differences between audio-only and audio-video formats. These findings suggest that audio-only instruction can be as effective as video-based content, offering an accessible alternative for diverse learners. The study highlights the value of brief, mediated interventions for improving public speaking outcomes in both traditional and online learning environments.

Feeling At Home In The Basic Communication Course: A Qualitative Case Study Of Faculty And Student Perceptions Of A Connected Classroom Climate At One Midwestern University, Cynthia Grobmeier

Basic Communication Course Annual

The concept of a connected classroom climate considers that peer-to-peer interaction, not just instructor-student interaction, contributes to a sense of community in the classroom that can impact student outcomes. This qualitative case study considers both student and instructor perceptions of what contributes to that sense of connection in the classroom at a mid-size, four-year, Hispanic-serving university. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and member checks with students and instructors who engaged in the first-year basic communication course during the Spring 2022 semester. Four themes emerged in this study: a) the communication classroom is uniquely positioned to create a sense of …

Speech Delivery Versus Speech Content: How Do Non-Expert Audiences Assess Public Speeches?, David G. Levasseur, Elizabeth A. Munz

Basic Communication Course Annual

Public speaking classes should ideally produce students whose speeches are favorably received by an audience. Unfortunately, we actually know very little about how non-expert audiences assess such speeches. Given this information gap, the present study asked untrained public speakers to watch and rate a variety of speeches. Participants were also asked to provide qualitative comments to justify their speech ratings. These qualitative comments were content analyzed, and the content analysis results revealed that participants’ evaluative observations: (1) focused much more on speech delivery than on speech content; (2) referenced specific nonverbal channels (e.g. eye contact) more than combined nonverbal clusters …

“I Did Not Come Back The Same”: Implications Of A Study Abroad Basic Communication Course, Kristen L. Farris, Andrea Avila, Lauren Green, Michael Burns, Marian L. Houser

Basic Communication Course Annual

The goal of this case study was to explore students’ experiences in a study abroad program of the basic communication course. Thirty-six students enrolled in a study abroad program in the summer of 2023 participated in focus groups tasked to understand more about students’ challenges and learning outcomes. Results from our study suggest students’ significant takeaways from the study abroad experience were their personal growth through improved communication skills and cultural appreciation via expanded worldviews. The findings also suggest these students experienced challenges including language barriers and nonverbal behavioral differences as well as initial negative expectations of intercultural interactions. However, …

A Proposed Administrative Model To Improve The Performance Of Academic Leaders At The College Of Applied Studies And Community Service At King Saud University In Light Of The Situational Leadership Theory, Mona Abdullah Al-Samhan

University of Bisha Journal for Educational Sciences

This study aimed to propose an administrative model to improve the performance of academic leaders at the College of Applied Studies and Community Service at King Saud University in light of the situational leadership theory, through: knowing the level of performance of academic leaders at the College of Applied Studies and Community Service at King Saud University in light of the situational leadership theory. Proposing an appropriate administrative model to improve the performance of academic leaders at the College of Applied Studies and Community Service at King Saud University in light of the situational leadership theory. The study followed the …

The Reality And Challenges Of Using Artificial Intelligence Applications To Teach Children With Disabilities From The Perspective Of Their Teachers, Samirah Abdu Ahmed Bahkali

University of Bisha Journal for Educational Sciences

The study aimed to explore the reality and challenges facing teachers of people with disabilities using artificial intelligence (AI) educational applications in teaching children with disabilities in early childhood schools in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A descriptive-analytical approach was used to collect data. The study sample consisted of 106 (41 males, 65 females) teachers of students with disabilities in early childhood education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The results showed that, from the perspective of teachers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the use of AI educational applications in teaching children with disabilities is weak. The study results …

Climate Shocks And State Formation: The 1970 Bhola Cyclone And The Birth Of Bangladesh, Sultan Mehmood, Ahmed Mushfiq Mobarak

Discussion Papers

State formation through secession often requires two critical steps: building mass support for independence, and engaging in violent conflict against a state resisting territorial loss. Combining satellite data with archival sources, we statistically document how exposure to the 1970 Bhola cyclone in East Pakistan which killed 350,000 people led to a rise in separatist sentiments expressed in voting booths, and later induced citizens to take up arms against the government and engage in guerrilla warfare. We identify the cyclone as a focal point that helped galvanize dispersed separatist sentiments into an organized political movement and war, in part by revealing …

Temperamental Traits For Infants And Toddlers With Rickets, Rabab Salah Eldin Mohamed

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

Background Rickets is a deficiency in the mineralization of developing bone. Infant temperament comprises a collection of qualities that define individual behavior. The objective of this work was to determine if there were variations in temperamental qualities between ricketic and normal babies and toddlers, and whether such differences varied by sex. Methods This cross-sectional work had been conducted on 100 children aged from 6 to 24 months both sexes, with rickets (Group 1), and 100 normal sex- and age-matched children as a control group (Group 2). All patients underwent evaluation of temperamental traits. The assessment of psychological aspects for both …

Combined Effect Of Letrozole And Dydrogesterone Versus Dydrogesterone Alone For Relieving Pain In Patients With Endometriosis, Mohamed M.H. Elwakeel, Mohamed A.T. Elsharawy, Abdelghaffar S. Dawod, Dina G. Elkhouly

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

Background Endometriosis is a medical condition in women caused by the growth of active endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. It predominantly affects women of reproductive age and typically manifests as dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. It negatively impacts psychological well-being and health-related quality of life. Aim This study aims to compare the effect of the combination of letrozole and dydrogesterone versus the effect of dydrogesterone alone in pain-associated endometriosis Patients & Methods This randomized controlled study was conducted on 88 women with endometriosisassociated pain in the gynecologic outpatient clinic at Tanta University Hospitals, from October 2023 to …

Reintegration Experiences Of Male Victims Of Human Trafficking, Thomas Brooks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human trafficking continues to be a world-wide problem, despite attempts to mitigate it. Many human trafficking victims are saved each year, but many more do not make it out. When rescued, the victims of human trafficking need to be reintegrated back into society. Research on human trafficking survivors is mostly focused on female victims; there is little research focused on male victims. Due to this, the purpose of this research was to explore the experiences of men who have been through the reintegration process as children in America after they have been rescued from human trafficking. A phenomenological approach was …

Polarization, Performance, Responsiveness, And Trust In Malawian Executive, Legislative, And Judicial Institutions, Rodgers Brenner Chawani

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Political trust matters for good governance and democracy. Although Malawi's constitution affirms trust as a key component of authority, Afrobarometer surveys have revealed broad declines, hindering democratic consolidation and the achievement of the long-term Vision 2063 development goals. Prior researchers studying the country have fixated on qualitative analyses and overlooked affective polarization and differentiation across government branches. The purpose of this cross-sectional quantitative study was to examine the predictive relationship between perceived government performance, responsiveness, corruption, affective polarization, democratic satisfaction, and trust in the Malawi president, parliament, and judiciary, using generalized linear models to apply Easton's political support theory to …

The Academic, Psychological, And Physical Impact Of Motor Skills Difficulties On College Students: A Scoping Review, David Gaul Phd, Suzanne Mccarthy Wolf

Articles

Purpose of Review

This scoping review examines the extent and quality of research literature to determine the impact of motor skills difficulties on college or university students. It assesses the adequacy of current institutional supports and identifies opportunities for more inclusive educational practices.

Recent Findings

Four databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) were searched for English-language studies published since 1970. Eighteen studies met inclusion criteria: 12 empirical, 4 descriptive, and 2 program evaluations. Six papers from the UK addressed support, social isolation, and academic confidence; six Israeli studies focused on handwriting, dysgraphia, and accommodations; three US studies examined …

The Rider (2025-10-13), Daniela Martinez Salazar

The Rider Archives

Vol. 11, No. 7

Novice Teachers’ Perceptions Of In-Person Professional Development On Technological Self-Efficacy, Spencer James Kiper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that prompted this study was the lack of professional development opportunities that address novice K–12 teachers’ technological self-efficacy. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of novice K–12 teachers in a large urban school district in Louisiana regarding professional development opportunities for technological self-efficacy. The conceptual framework for this study was composed of Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy and the technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) framework. Ten novice teachers with fewer than 5 years of teaching experience participated in semistructured interviews. Data analysis procedures included descriptive coding, axial coding, and thematic analysis. Results revealed …

Garnet & Black Fall 2025, University Of South Carolina, Office Of Student Media

Garnet & Black Magazine

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Natural Language Processing Application For Lgbtq+ Status In Mental Health Records, Margaret Heslin, Jaya Chaturvedi, Anne Marie Bonnici Mallia, Ace Taaca, Diogo Pontes, Charvi Saraswat, Charlotte Woodhead, Katharine Rimes, David Chandran, Jyoti Sanyal, Ruimin Ma, Robert Stewart, Angus Roberts

School of Psychology

BackgroundLesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and related community (LGBTQ+) individuals have significantly increased risk for mental health problems. However, research on inequalities in LGBTQ+ mental healthcare is limited because LGBTQ+ status is usually only contained in unstructured, free-text sections of electronic health records.AimsThis study investigated whether natural language processing (NLP), specifically the large language model, Bi-directional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT), can identify LGBTQ+ status from this unstructured text in mental health records.MethodUsing electronic health records from a large mental healthcare provider in south London, UK, relevant search terms were identified and a random sample of 10 000 strings extracted. …

Predictors Of Parental Behavior And Child Weight Status, Fidelia Senayah, Heba M. Athar, Allison G. Litton

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Childhood obesity is a major health issue globally. The prevalence rate remains high in Ohio, with associated complications among affected children and adolescents. The current study examined the association among obesity risk knowledge, risk perception, feeding behavior, and child weight outcome while controlling for race, gender, income, and education. We collected quantitative data through an online survey of parents in Northwest Ohio (n = 71) using the obesity risk knowledge scale and factors from the Child Feeding Questionnaire. We analyzed data using multiple linear regression. The primary outcome measures were feeding behavior and child weight status. Parental obesity risk …

Diabetes Care For People Experiencing Homelessness In The Uk: Insights From A National Survey Of Frontline Professionals And The Development Of An Integrated Care Model, Daniela Oehring, Martha Paisi, Mona Nasser, Theo Jackson, Ryan Young, Lynne Wooff, Helen Partridge, Jacqueline Conaty, Samantha Dorney-Smith

School of Health Professions

Introduction: People experiencing homelessness (PEH) face food insecurity, unstable housing and fragmented services that render conventional diabetes pathways unworkable and amplify complications. Methods: Between January and April 2024, we conducted a nationwide, cross-sectional mixed-methods survey of front-line professionals via NHS, inclusion-health and voluntary-sector networks, analysing quantitative data (n = 104) with ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis tests and ordinal logistic regression, and subjecting free-text responses to reflexive thematic analysis, before converging findings to develop the Integrated Holistic Diabetes Care Model for Homelessness (IHD-CMPH). Results: Respondents comprised specialist diabetes clinicians (31%), homelessness/inclusion-health staff (38%) and VCSE providers (32%); median perceived Type 1 prevalence among …

Chimes: October 13, 2025, Calvin University

Chimes

Creation care on Calvin's campus by Maya Oeverman

Breaking new ground: Calvin's ecosystem preserve adds a rock garden by Ian Tjoelker

Break-in News: Deer in Boer Bennink Kitchen by Maya Oeverman

A story worth seeing: Calvin's The Glass Menagerie by Ellery Johnson

Donald Trump vs. John Calvin by Joe Toly

Ode to the fallen deer by Marcail Schuurmann

Singing A Wide Heart: Timbre And Sung Prayer In Senegal’S Layène Community, Margaret L. Rowley

Yale Journal of Music & Religion

Layène sung prayer (called sikkar) is embedded within the religious practices of the Layène community, a minority Sufi order in Dakar, Senegal. This article explores the functions of Layène sung prayer, focusing especially on its loud, vibrational timbre. Both men and women vocalists in call-and-response sing loudly, using wide vibrato and electronic amplification to ensure that the sikkar reaches the inhabitants—both human and non-human—in the surrounding community. This article demonstrates that the distinctive timbre of Layène sung prayer serves the spiritual functions of binding the community together in spiritual and social cohesion, increasing individual and collective generosity, and demarcating …

Performing "Manly" Worship Music: Gender And Timbre At Mars Hill Church, Maren Haynes Marchesini

Yale Journal of Music & Religion

Ten years ago, Mars Hill boasted fifteen campuses and 15,000 members. Amid mounting allegations of abuse and mismanagement leveled against founding pastor Mark Driscoll, the church famously collapsed, closing its doors at the end of 2014. Driscoll had built Mars Hill’s core brand around his opposition to the perceived feminization of the Christian mainstream, and appointing himself the “leader of a heterosexual male backlash” in the church and broader culture. While Driscoll’s muscular Christianity stands in a wide historical stream, Mars Hill long led the charge in establishing a youth-oriented, hipster brand of hypermasculine Calvinism. And while rhetoric and theology …

Vinyl Noise, James Kelly

Staff Scholarship - Australia & Dubai

In this talk, audio engineer, composer, and record collector Dr. Kelly will explore the fascinating intersection of sound, technology and perception through the lens of vinyl records and their inherent noisiness. Vinyl noise, or surface noise, refers to the sounds on vinyl records that aren’t part of the music itself. Drawing from both production and listening perspectives, Dr. Kelly will offer insights into how records are made, the noisiness inherent to the medium, and how listeners engage with these unwanted sounds - whether by ignoring, finding them distracting, or embracing them as part of the medium’s texture.

Dynamics Of Infanticides Among The Ngoni Of Tanzania, 1850s-1916, Andrew S. Kasambala, Oswald J. Masebo

Zamani: A Journal of African Historical Studies

Infanticide is one of the key factors in explaining changes in human populations since the antiquity. This paper examines dynamics of infanticide practices among the Ngoni of Tanzania from the late pre- colonial to the end of German colonial rule in 1916. Relying on primary and secondary sources, it argues that while infanticide remained a critical problem in Songea from the 19th century to the end of German colonialism in 1916, the context in which it was practiced and the interventions devised to alleviate it changed over time. While it was primarily practiced in Songea by pre-Ngoni communal based clans …

Criteria For Rejecting Ideas In African Philosophy : A Historical And Epistemological Analysis, Eric C. Mgalula

Zamani: A Journal of African Historical Studies

The rejection of African ideas remains a pivotal debate in African philosophy, centring on tensions between universalist epistemologies and culturally specific criteria. This study synthesizes fragmented discussions into a cohesive framework, interrogating when and why African ideas may be deemed inadequate. It critiques contemporary African scholarship that rigidly adheres to indigenous traditions under decolonial and nationalist imperatives, advocating instead for a balanced approach that harmonizes intellectual rigor with cultural authenticity. Through a historical analysis of key thinkers—from Tempels and Hountondji to Wiredu and Oyewumí—this article historicizes the evolution of evaluative criteria in African philosophy, challenging colonial legacies and romanticized traditionalism. …

Designing Assignments For Non-Traditional Students In Higher Education Using Andragogical Principles, Ajit Bhattarai, Beixi Li

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

This conceptual paper explores assignment design for non-traditional students in higher education, guided by andragogical principles. Recognizing the increasing presence of adult learners, the paper emphasizes the need for tailored educational strategies. Drawing upon Malcolm Knowles' assumptions of andragogy, it highlights self-directed learning, practical application, and relevance as key considerations. The paper discusses how assignments can be designed to engage adult learners by acknowledging their prior experiences and fostering a sense of ownership in their learning. This study contributes to the ongoing conversation on improving educational practices for non-traditional students, advocating for approaches that recognize them as students who bring …

Enhancing Urban Transit Oriented Development: Investigating Passenger Loyalty, Attitudes, And Perceived Usefulness On Jabodetabek Kai Commuter, Hermeilia Megawati, Roza Alifia Aegista, Liza Yudhita Widyastuti, Alifa Syamantha Putri

Psychological Research on Urban Society

This study explores the psychological factors that influence applying a technology acceptance model to KAI Commuter Jabodetabek. The model focuses on the primary variables of perceived usefulness and attitude toward the service, with passenger loyalty serving as the key indicator of successful public transportation acceptance. Data was collected via surveys from 352 purposively selected commuter workers in the Greater Jakarta area using a cross-sectional, quantitative design. The measurement tools used are adaptations of the Passenger Loyalty Measure to Public Transportation Modes, the Attitude Measure to Public Transportation, and the Perceived Usefulness Measure. The results indicate that attitude toward KAI Commuter …

Pakistan’S Experience With The Imf, 2000–2004, Ishrat Husain Dr.

Faculty Research - Talks, Speeches, & Discourse

Pakistan’s relationship with the IMF during the 2000 – 2004 period was quite unique and distinctive. Unlike the earlier eight agreements that were concluded with the IMF during 1988-99 and were never implemented beyond the first tranche release it was only in this period that two successive agreements – a nine month Stand-by Arrangement (SBA) in the year 2000 followed by a three year Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) were successfully completed. All the sixteen reviews by IMF staff were completed and eleven successive tranches were drawn on time without any extension or interruption. The last two tranches were …

The Scent Of Beer And Rubbing Alcohol On Behavioral Risk Intentions In College Students, Christina A. Moore, Terry F. Pettijohn Ii

Psychology

To determine if olfactory primes have an influence on risky behavioral intentions, a study was conducted on college students. Participants (N=64) were primed with the smell of either beer, rubbing alcohol, or a control condition followed by a survey that asked questions related to risk-taking behavior intentions with 5 subscales (ethical, financial, health/safety, recreational, social) as well as sexual risks. It was predicted that college students who are exposed to the smell of beer are more likely to report intentions of engaging in risky behaviors, including unprotected sexual activity. When participants are exposed to the smell of rubbing alcohol, they …