Digital Commons Network^™

Reassessing The Deontological Undercurrents In Mo Zi’S Ethical Thought, Nuno Miranda

Comparative Philosophy

This article reexamines Mo Zi’s ethical philosophy, challenging the dominant interpretation of Mohism as a purely consequentialist or proto-utilitarian system. While Mo Zi’s emphasis on social utility—such as material welfare, population growth, and aversion to warfare—aligns with outcome-oriented reasoning, I argue that his invocation of the will of Heaven introduces a deontological dimension. Heaven’s will serves not merely as a heuristic for maximizing benefits but as an absolute moral standard, demanding adherence to duties like universal love and non-aggression, irrespective of immediate practical gains. Through a close reading of the Mo-Zi corpus, this study reveals a hybrid ethical framework that …

How Theravāda Buddhism Enriches The Language Of Thought Hypothesis: Beyond Syntax, Juanjuan Cheng, Sumanasara Sandamadulle

Comparative Philosophy

The Language of Thought Hypothesis (LOTH) posits that mental states operate through a language-like representational system physically implemented in the brain. However, this purely symbolic approach faces a significant limitation: certain mental phenomena—such as intuitions, emotions, and intentions—lack the syntactically compositional structure required by LOTH and therefore cannot be adequately explained within its symbolic framework. To address this theoretical challenge, we turn to Theravāda Buddhism (TB), an early Buddhist tradition that integrates rigorous philosophical inquiry with meditative practice. Remarkably, TB began to prefigure a solution to LOTH’s limitations over 2,300 years ago. Although LOTH and TB differ …

Improving Equity In Financial Aid Policy For Students With Disabilities, Ryan S. Wells, S. Kate Farmer, Morgan D. Woroner

Journal of Student Financial Aid

Disabled college students face significant barriers to degree completion, including systemic inequities in financial aid policies. This Issue Article investigates financial aid policies that unfairly limit aid to disabled students, at times forcing them to choose between maximizing their financial aid and the recommended accommodations to which they have a legal right, such as a reduced courseload. We highlight how current policies, including Pell Grant proration, Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements, and lifetime funding caps, create financial and administrative burdens that disproportionately affect disabled students. By examining federal and state-level policy responses, we identify both promising practices and persistent gaps …

Advancing Literacy Instruction: Bridging Evidence-Based And Culturally Responsive Practices To Serve All Learners, Jamie L. Nord

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

As Minnesota's student population becomes increasingly diverse, persistent literacy achievement gaps among students of color, multilingual learners, and students from low-income backgrounds demand urgent attention. While the state's READ Act mandates structured, evidence-based literacy instruction grounded in the Science of Reading, its successful implementation must not overshadow the equally vital need for culturally and linguistically responsive pedagogy. This white paper argues for a comprehensive, dual-framework approach that integrates both evidence-based literacy practices and culturally affirming instructional strategies

Unlocking Reading Success: Addressing The Literacy Crisis In The United States, Jennifer Kaczrowski-Taylor

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

This white paper addresses the literacy crisis in the United States. Currently, in the educational system, millions of children lack access to research-based reading instruction and, as a result, struggle to become proficient readers. Despite decades of academic and reform efforts, national reading achievement has been declining. This literacy crisis can be traced back to outdated or inconsistent instructional practices, socioeconomic background, lack of research-based instructional curricula, as well as inconsistent and ineffective implementation of these approaches. Based on recent research and national data, this white paper advocates for aligning teacher education and professional development with the Science of Reading. …

An Exploratory Study Of Soft Skills Development Expectations In Two-Year Generation Z College Students, Kelli Hallsten Erickson

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

Workplace demands around competent demonstration of soft skills have been steadily increasing; therefore, institutions of higher education have started focusing attention on instilling these skills within their student populations. The latest generational cohort to enter college and the workforce, Generation Z, has only recently begun to be studied for the impact of its members’ attitudes towards work and how those might change employer expectations around soft skills. A research gap exists, however, regarding students in Generation Z attending two-year schools and which soft skills they feel are most valuable to their future careers. This study sought to explore those attitudes …

Quarcs Light: Validation Of An Abbreviated Assessment Of Undergraduate Numeracy And Mathematics Affect, Isaac S. Rosenthal, Kate Follette, Vonna L. Hemmler, Catherine Sarosi, Sanlyn Buxner, Erin Galyen, Margaret Shea, Soon-Young Shimizu, Brendan Seto

Numeracy

In this study, we present evidence for the validity of a shortened form of the Quantitative Reasoning for College Science (QuaRCS) Assessment, a validated instrument assessing the numeracy and math-related affect of undergraduate students in general education/introductory science courses. Previously published analyses of QuaRCS data revealed that 1) roughly 30% of students found the assessment boring, leading to lower self-reported effort and 2) affective factors (e.g. numerical self-efficacy) were significant predictors of QuaRCS score. As a result, we reduced the length of the assessment from 25 to 15 quantitative items, and expanded the affective variable selection from three to eight …

Female Sexual Offenders: An Underrecognized, Underreported, And Underresearched Population, Chelsea H. Henry

Master of Arts in Human Services

This paper explored female sexual offenders and described how their crimes are underrecognized, underreported, and underresearched. Women commit part of all sexual crimes against children, although prevalence rates are hotly debated. Research demonstrates that female offenders are often their victims' mothers, caregivers, or other relatives. This societal role leads to difficulty in recognizing that this type of abuse exists. Media portrayals often cast female offenders in the role of victims themselves or cast the abuse in a positive light. Females are often the producers of online child sex abuse material, and more research is needed on this understudied topic as …

Campus Dialogue Guidebook 2025, Chloe Cairncross, Christopher P. Davey, Charles Guenther, James Kang, Bryce Lambright, Layla Modlin, Wai Wai Nu, Frank Okyere Osei, Diane Tayong, Leah Wardlaw

Monographs and Open Access Books

This guidebook's purpose is to understand and address the potential of dialogue for our Binghamton campus community. It shares the background of dialogue on campus, describes case studies of dialogue work on campus, offers “things to do,” and finally suggests some ways of measuring effective dialogue. This guidebook is written primarily by students, and for students to use. Students at Binghamton University are our primary audience. The principles in this guidebook may be applicable across other campuses in similar environments. This guidebook is put together in a way that shows what kind of dialogue has been happening and not happening, …

Assessing The Impact Of Structural And Interpersonal Gendered Racism On Sexual And Reproductive Healthcare Among U.S. Women Of Color, Kimberly Muellers

ETD Collection

No abstract provided.

Dating During Covid-19 For Immunocompromised And Non-Immunocompromised Individuals: The Impact Of Physical Health Status On Precautionary Dating Behaviors, Julia Baer

ETD Collection

No abstract provided.

Virtual Village: The Relationship Between Social Media Use And Parental Self-Efficacy In The Orthodox Jewish Community, Ephrem Wagner

ETD Collection

No abstract provided.

The Experiences Of Middle School Students In A Career And Character-Focused Curriculum: A Phenomenological Study, Don J. Hoover

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

THE EXPERIENCES OF MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN A CAREER

AND CHARACTER-FOCUSED CURRICULUM:

A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY

Don Jason Hoover

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of former middle school students who participated in a two-year character development, career readiness, and leadership program implemented in a public junior high school. Guided by Bandura’s social learning theory, the study focused on how students experienced and internalized the program’s components, which included leadership training, social learning activities, and college and career readiness preparation. The research was conducted using semistructured interviews with 10 participants who had completed the …

Dnp Project: Research Study Using Mindfulness Meditation For Stress Reduction In Undergraduate Nursing Students, Jennifer Williams

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Undergraduate nursing students often experience high stress from academic rigor, clinical demands, and personal challenges, contributing to mental health concerns and increased attrition. Unmanaged stress, when met with insufficient coping strategies, may contribute to students failing, leaving, or withdrawing from a nursing program. This research project addressed the need for a structured coping strategy within the curriculum at a State College to promote student resilience and reduce stress. As a quality improvement process change, the project’s purpose was to evaluate the impact of a four-week mindfulness meditation (MM) intervention on perceived stress levels of first-semester Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) …

August 12, 2025 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Autism Awareness Training For Law Enforcement Officers: A Pilot Study, Kaylie Holke, Meghan Cosier, Elissa Green Kaustinen, Cathy Scherer, Andrew Wall

Education Faculty Articles and Research

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to pilot a research-based autism training session for law enforcement officers (LEOs), test the Police Self-Efficacy for Autism (PSEA) scale as a measurement tool for the session and provide a preliminary examination of brief training. Design/methodology/approach

This study utilized a pre-post survey approach in which participants completed the PSEA scale pre- and post-training to measure the relationship between the training and self-efficacy scores. Findings

Results show a positive relationship between brief autism-specific training and officers’ self-efficacy scores across items and subscales. All four subscales and seven of thirteen items demonstrated statistical significance. Originality/value …

Implementing Education On Music Therapy To Healthcare Professionals In Acute Psychiatric Inpatient Units To Decrease Incidences Of Aggression Among Patients, Judy Murua

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Aggression in psychiatric inpatient units presents a significant barrier to therapeutic care and staff safety, often resulting in the overuse of pharmacological interventions or restraints. Despite strong evidence supporting music therapy as a non-pharmacological option, limited exposure and confidence among healthcare team members hinder its use in practice. This quality improvement project evaluated whether an educational intervention on music therapy could improve staff‘s confidence in utilizing this technique to manage aggression. A quasi-experimental, one-group pre- and post-test design was employed in an adult inpatient psychiatric unit, involving participation from nurses and behavioral health technicians. A structured 30–45-minute educational session was …

Cognitive Impairment In Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Clinical Implications And Novel Treatment Strategies, Alexis J. Vega, Gabriel V. Hernandez, Ahmed I. Anwar, Bahareh Sharafi, Rahib K. Islam, Sahar Shekoohi, Alan D. Kaye

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a lifelong condition; however, traditional treatment focuses on hyperactivity and inattention, which is largely a manifestation of pediatric ADHD. Studies are limited regarding cognitive difficulties, as seen in adult ADHD, as well as treatment strategies for this population. This review of the literature examines multiple recent studies that discuss various novel treatment strategies for cognitive impairment in adults with ADHD. A targeted literature review was conducted using PubMed to identify recent studies on cognitive dysfunction in adults with ADHD, with an emphasis on emerging treatment strategies. Data collected included sample size, intervention strategies, cognitive …

Clickbait Economics: When Narratives Outshine Fundamentals, Esther Eisenstat

Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Politics, Economics and World Affairs

No abstract provided.

Judicial Lustration In Backsliding Democracies: Causes And Solutions For Publication, Collin Mcdonnell

Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Politics, Economics and World Affairs

No abstract provided.

Addressing Psychosocial Barriers To Participation In People Experiencing Homelessness: An Occupational Therapy Workshop, Preston Bender, Steven M. Gerardi, Lacey Spark

Summer 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Despite the occupational therapy (OT) profession's emphasis on holistic, person-centered care, many OT practitioners and students report feeling a lack of self-efficacy and preparedness to navigate the complex psychological, social, and systemic barriers that hinder occupational participation in people experiencing homelessness (PEH). This capstone project aimed to address the perceived unpreparedness among clinicians through the creation of an 8-hour interactive educational workshop aligned with Experiential Learning Theory. The content is grounded in the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) and informed by the Bridging the Transition from Homelessness: A Social Justice Framework (BTTF), trauma-informed care (TIC), harm reduction, and diversity, equity, …

Quality Improvement Project The Impact Of Targeted Education And Training On The Use Of Rapid Mood Screener Tool On The Rate Of Mood Disorders Detection Among Psychiatric Providers, Oluwatobi Adeleke

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Optimal mood disorder (MD) management outcomes are associated with accurate and timely diagnosis. Yet, MD misdiagnosis, particularly Bipolar I, is an unfortunately common problem. Rapid assessment or screening tools offer effective diagnostic assessment interventions for faster diagnosis without compromising effectiveness. Still, their administration is constrained by providers’ knowledge and competence limitations. The Rapid Mood Screener (RMS) is a rapid screener for MDs, including Bipolar I, with well-established specificity, accuracy, and reliability. Provider training and education on RMS implementation can be effective in addressing the challenges providers encounter in the tool’s administration. Here, through a pre-post quasi-experimental design, this quality improvement …

Quality Improvement Project Implementing Test Anxiety-Reducing Methods In Senior-Level Nursing Students, Ashley Brooke Gray

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Test anxiety is a common occurrence among university students, particularly nursing students. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project was to address the problem of test anxiety among senior-level nursing students and the lack of faculty intervention in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. This DNP project aimed to increase awareness of test anxiety among nursing students and provide faculty development training on identifying symptoms, utilizing the Westside Test Anxiety Scale (WTAS), and implementing test anxiety-reducing measures in the classroom. The DNP student provided training to senior-level nursing faculty in integrating relaxation methods, …

Foster Kinship Program Evaluation, Eduardo Cabral-Terrazas, Jamilah Mcgrue, Andrea Rangelova, Jeffrey Vanderlaan

Public Policy and Leadership Theses & Dissertations

Foster Kinship, a Nevada-based nonprofit, operates under the belief that “When children cannot be with their parents, they should be with their family” (Foster Kinship, 2022). It supports kinship caregivers, who often take in children during a crisis, in navigating the foster care system. The organization’s Kinship Navigator Program offers training, case management, and licensing support to kinship caregivers, enabling them to access financial assistance and other benefits. However, many caregivers who complete the training do not finish the licensing process, limiting placement stability and access to resources for the children. Understanding why kinship caregivers trained through the Foster Kinship …

Gamete Size Is Essential For Understanding Sex And Sexual Selection In Humans, Animals, Plants, And Algae But Configurations Of Sex-Linked Traits Are Practically Important For Understanding Sex, David A. Frederick

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

"First, I briefly highlight recent discussions of sex and how they contrast with a gametic central understanding of sex in the executive order. I then provide some background on why gametes have been central to defining sex across species in evolutionary biological sciences. Understanding this perspective is important because it helps understand the competing frames people are using when they talk of sex as binary instead of as a spectrum or a multidimensional configuration of traits. The gametic central framing is essential for understanding sex and sexual selection across species, whereas the multidimensional configuration framing is practically useful in medical, …

Evidence-Based Intervention Proposal For Reducing Intimate Partner Violence Against Jamaican Women, Kimisha K. Campbell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Domestic violence (DV) is a significant public health concern that negatively impacts women’s health, yet gaps in trauma-informed screening and referral processes persist within nursing practice. In Jamaica, DV remains underreported, highlighting the need for enhanced provider competency in identifying and supporting survivors. The doctoral project was used to examine how implementing the trauma-informed care (TIC) model and the Identification and Referral to Improve Safety (IRIS) program could improve healthcare staff’s ability to recognize, assess, and support DV survivors. Guided by the TIC framework and the IRIS program, a mixed-methods approach was used, incorporating pre- and posttraining assessments, staff surveys, …

A Closer Look At Parental Narratives: A Qualitative Analysis Of Parental Entries In Neonatal Research Diaries Of Preterm Infants Participating In The Report-Bpd Feasibility Study, Wisam Muhsen, Ana Guillot Lozano, Jos M. Latour

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Highlights: What are the main findings? Parental diary entries captured meaningful real-time observations of preterm infants’ health during the first 10 days of life in the NICU. These entries showed emotional depth and parental vigilance but lacked the clinical specificity to support prediction of BPD. What is the implication of the main finding? Parental observations, while insightful, do not appear to complement echocardiographic data in predicting early BPD development. Neonatal diaries may still hold value as a communication tool to enhance family-centred care and parent–staff collaboration in the NICU. Background/Objectives: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease affecting preterm …

Embodied Multisensory Gastronomic Experience And Sustainable Destination Appeal: A Grounded Theory Approach, Qicheng Pan, Qingchuo Zhang, Junjun Tian, Jinhua Zhang, Qian Chen

Plymouth Business School

The shift toward experience-oriented travel has positioned food as a central driver forattracting visitors to sustainable destinations, directly supporting United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)11 (resilient cities) and SDG 12 (responsible consumption).While prior research has predominantly emphasised marketing outcomes, the role of bodily experiences in shaping gastronomic tourism has received less attention. This studyexplores how sensory elements (sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch) and non-sensoryelements (including cultural meaning and service quality) jointly influence food-relatedtravel experiences. Twenty-five self-identified food travellers were interviewed in a UnitedNations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) City of Gastronomy,and their narratives were analysed using a three-stage …

The Face Of Fluent Reading: Using Eye Tracking And Spectrographic Analysis Of Prosody To Predict Comprehension, Hannah Anderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The purpose of the current study was to examine the contributions of oral and silent reading fluency to comprehension in grade four students (N = 192). Participants were administered grade-level CBM probes and i-Ready Diagnostic measures of comprehension. Eye movements, spectrographic measures of prosody, reading rate, and accuracy were extracted from the CBM readings. A two-factor measurement model was proposed, with an oral reading fluency factor and a silent reading fluency factor. Additionally, a mediation model was proposed to consider oral contributions to silent reading (and, subsequently, comprehension). Results instead supported a bifactor model, indicating a general reading fluency factor …

The Changing Style Of Change In Style: A Critical Case Study On The Aesthetics Of De-Radicalization Experiences, Bernardo Alba

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This dissertation explores how aesthetic experiences—not just belief-systems or ideologies—influence both the process of radicalization into, and de-radicalization out of, Far-right nationalist subcultures. It introduces the concept of “aesthetic conversion”: a profound transformative shift in how people experience and express themselves through artistic media and stylistic taste broadly understood (including but not limited to fashion, tattoos, music, dance, creative writing, public speaking, etc.). I argue that such transformations in aesthetic sensibility can spark profound ideological changes, including the possibility of fostering disengagement from such far-right movements. With this concept, I aim to show that aesthetic concerns, far from being incidental …