Digital Commons Network^™

Quiet Hills, Restless Hearts: An Intersectional Exploration Of Lgbtq+ Religious Journeys In Appalachia, Allison S. Monroe, Stacey L. Williams

McNair Culminating Research Projects

Many researchers have utilized Meyer’s (2003) minority stress model to examine the social factors influencing the daily lives of LGBTQ+ individuals. Previous research has looked at negative mental health outcomes for LGBTQ+ individuals (McGraw et al., 2023), the presence of religious stress for this community (Page et al., 2013), and religious journeys of these individuals (Halkitis et al, 2009).  However, few studies have examined the intersection of religion, LGBTQ+ identity, social support, and the overarching values of Appalachian culture. The proposed study seeks to add to the literature and understand the breadth of these experiences by employing qualitative semi-structured interviews. …

Exploring The Link Between Substance Use Severity And Self-Stigma: The Moderating Role Of Enacted Stigma, Alaya Shelton

McNair Culminating Research Projects

Self-stigma has been shown to negatively impact treatment engagement, recovery, and reintegration outcomes among individuals with substance use and criminal histories (Moore et al., 2023). Further, prior research has shown that markers of an individual’s substance use treatment history (e.g., number of prior treatment episodes and perceived substance use severity; Hammarlund et al., 2018; Luoma et al., 2012; Silveira et al., 2016) and negative experiences with medical professionals (Hoover et al., 2022; Muncan et al. 2020) are closely linked to self-stigma. While these factors independently contribute to one’s level of self-stigma, to our knowledge, no prior work has examined how …

Rescripting Evangelism: Attending To Anxiety In The Evangelism Classroom, Mark R. Teasdale

Witness

No abstract provided.

The Effectiveness Of Using Ai As A Digital Assistant In Problem-Based Learning On Student Learning Outcomes, Fadil Firdian, Afif Rahman Riyanda, Ghea Chandra Surawan, Rafiqa Rizalita

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) based Digital Assistant in the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) model on the learning outcomes of PTI Study Program students in the mobile Programming course. The research method uses a quasi-experimental approach with a pretest-posttest control group. The results showed a significant difference between the experimental and control classes with a p value = 0.001 < 0.05, indicating a significant influence on learning outcomes. The N-Gain value was 0.543 (Moderate) and the results of sser satisfaction questionnaire were 3.30 (Satisfied). These findings prove that the integration of AI as a digital assistant in PBL is effective in improving learning outcomes, conceptual understanding, and student satisfaction with the use of AI.

Exploring Strategies For Reducing Employee Turnover In Healthcare Facilities, Khaddy Jammeh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Examining The Relationship Between Leadership Styles And Staff Retention In Healthcare, Stephanie Michelle Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Scaffolding Minimum Age Thresholds, Eve Rips

Tulsa Law Review

No abstract provided.

Wounded Domestic Ecologies: Ecofeminist Readings Of Gendered Trauma In Purple Hibiscus, Erere Victory Iwhi

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Purple Hibiscus through an ecofeminist and postcolonial ecocritical lens, developing the concept of "wounded domestic ecology" to analyze how gendered violence operates within domestic space. Drawing on trauma studies, particularly J. R. Kurtz and Rob Nixon's concept of slow violence, it argues that harm in the novel is accumulative, produced through repetition, surveillance, ritual, and spatial regulation. Eugene's household functions as an environment that disciplines bodies, governs language, and embeds fear into everyday life. In contrast, Aunt Ifeoma's home in Nsukka offers a counter-ecology structured by sound, shared labor, and dialogic authority, interrupting the …

It's (Not) Raining Men: Exploring The Themes Surrounding Low Male Presence In Pediatric Nursing, Marcin Janczak

Honors Projects

Background: Men remain underrepresented in nursing, with an even smaller presence in pediatric nursing. Purpose: To examine pediatric-specific themes that may contribute to the low presence of men in pediatric nursing, and strategies to counteract these potential barriers. Methods: CINAHL Ultimate and Google Scholar were searched for primary research published from 2015 to 2025 related to male nurses, male nursing students, gender bias, pediatric care, and clinical experiences. Findings: Four major themes emerged: gender stereotypes and the feminization of pediatric nursing, sociocultural barriers and gender bias, fear and distrust toward male nurses, and psychological and professional impacts on men in …

‘Wala Kaming Alam Sa Stroke Care’ (We Don’T Know Anything About Stroke Care): Experiences Of Care Providers Delivering Stroke Rehabilitation Care In The Philippines, Fiona Leggat, Sarah Ann Buckingham, Aira Patrice Rueda Ong, Bridie Kent, Nena Marie Santos, Annah Teves, Vergil Boac, Paula Melizza Valera, Elda Anota, Maria Mercedes Barba, Myrna Estrada, Neil Bryan Pita, Alyssa Dar Juan, Lorraine Faeldon, Fiona Jones

School of Nursing and Midwifery

BackgroundIn the Philippines, rising stroke prevalence and healthcare inequalities present a concerning outlook. While acute stroke care is prioritised, rehabilitation remains undervalued. The experiences of healthcare providers who deliver stroke support are also under-researched.Objective(s)Our study aimed to explore the experiences and needs of care providers across multiple regions of the Philippines to inform the development of stroke support initiatives and programmes.MethodsForming part of the Tulong, Ugnayan ng Lingap At gabaY (TULAY) project, a qualitative descriptive design involving semi-structured interviews was used. Care providers with professional or voluntary community healthcare service delivery roles were recruited. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic …

Expanding Transmobilities: Understanding Genderdiverse And Transgender Travel Behavior Through An Art-Informed Methodology, Nicholas Michael Puczkowskyj

Dissertations and Theses

Transgender and genderdiverse people face discrimination and harassment in public when making trips in Portland, OR. People who identify as genderdiverse or transgender create unique travel behavior due to the influence of their internalized and expressed gender identity and through interactions in public. This dissertation examines how gender identity influences the travel behavior of genderdiverse and transgender people and how these experiences influence their subjective wellbeing when making trips in Portland, Oregon. Traditional one-on-one interviews were conducted in conjunction with allowing the interviewees to produce art as a non-verbal form of expression and communication of their experiences making trips in …

Automated Physical Activity Support For Adults And Youth From Low-Income Communities: Single-Arm Pilot Study., Jordan A. Carlson, Frank T. Materia, Mallory Moon, Suryeon Ryu, Cory Yeager, Chelsea Steel, Kacee Shields, Harpreet Singh Gill, Jannette Berkley-Patton, Delwyn Catley

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Mobile health (mHealth) interventions are growing in popularity, but less research has focused on low-income families, particularly interventions integrating wearable devices with automated personalized messages.

OBJECTIVE: We tested a preliminary wearable-integrated mHealth intervention with initial personalization elements among adults and youth from low-income urban communities, focusing on feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary evidence of physical activity behavior.

METHODS: Participants were 83 adults and 31 youth recruited through community health events held in low-income urban communities. Using a single-arm pre-post design, participants were enrolled into a 7-week beta-version mHealth intervention that integrated a Garmin activity monitor with automated text messages. Messages …

Analysis Of The Relationship Between The Timing Of Foot Pressure Mechanics And Force At The Moment Of Leaping And The Accuracy Of Heading Of Young Football Players, Widad Kadhim Majeed, Huda Shihab Jari, Mariam Abduljabbar Khudhair, Félix Arbinaga Ibarzábal

Modern Sport

Football is a dynamic sport that requires both physical and technical skill because it is played within a specific timeframe and in a large space; physical ability is inseparable from technical proficiency among a match. This research aims to analyze the relationship between the timing of foot pressure, force generated at take-off, and heading accuracy in youth football players. A descriptive correlational approach was used on a sample of (8) players. Data were collected using a Foot Scan platform andvideo analysis. The results it was significant correlations between biomechanical variables and heading accuracy. The highest recorded correlation reached (R = …

Does A Common Threat Unite?: Alliance Formation In East Asia Under Chinese Pressure, Sean G. Mcclellan

Honors Theses

The study explores whether a shared geopolitical threat fosters alliance formation among East Asian nations, focusing on Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea in the context of increasing Chinese influence. Integrating insights from international relations theory and social psychology—particularly Realistic Conflict Theory and the out-group unifying effect—the research evaluates whether perceived Chinese aggression corresponds with increased positive sentiment toward the United States. Utilizing data from the Asian Barometer Survey, linear regression analysis is conducted to assess how perceptions of Chinese and U.S. influence, democratic values, and political affiliation shape public attitudes. Results show that while negative views of Chinese and U.S. …

Rehabvr: A Virtual Reality System For Upper-Body Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Rehabilitation, Winnie Brenda Wanjiru Waiya

Computer Science Senior Theses

Physical therapy is a central component of rehabilitation for musculoskeletal conditions, yet adherence to prescribed treatment remains persistently poor. Jack et al. identified pain, boredom, and insufficient feedback as key barriers to treatment adherence in physiotherapy outpatient settings,¹ and Rucinski et al. confirmed that non-adherence rates in orthopaedic populations remain between 50 and 70%, with patients who disengage facing elevated risk of reoperation, progressive functional decline, and poor clinical outcomes.² According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1.71 billion people globally live with musculoskeletal conditions,³ with shoulder pain specifically carrying a community prevalence ranging from 0.67 to 55.2% worldwide and …

Chatgpt, Where Should I Go? A Qualitative Exploration Of How Large Language Models Are Experienced As Support For Travel Planning, Mohammad Amin Kuhail, Asbjørn Følstad, Saifeddin Alimamy

All Works

Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly used for travel planning. Yet, little is known about how travellers experience and interact with such language models. This qualitative study explores how users employ LLMs to plan trips, drawing on the hedonic/pragmatic model of user experience to examine functional and affective dimensions. We collected data from 104 participants with prior experience using LLMs for travel advice through open-ended questionnaire responses. Thematic analysis revealed three key insights: (1) users value the pragmatic benefits of LLMs, such as efficiency, clarity, and confidence in decision-making, while also appreciating hedonic qualities, including inspiration, enjoyment, and authenticity; (2) …

Acceptance Of Shared Autonomous Vehicles: Exploring The Attitudes And Perspectives Of Older Adults, Sara Sohaee Urbina

Dissertations and Theses

The fast development of autonomous vehicle systems will create major changes in how people move around. Previous research shows that these technologies can benefit older people who struggle with mobility, safety and access to transportation. Shared Autonomous Vehicles (SAVs) enable older people to achieve self-reliance while obtaining essential services which enhance their quality of living. The successful deployment of SAVs requires users to accept this new technology which they must also be willing to use. This research study investigates which elements affect older adults to adopt SAVs by using an extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) framework.

The research design of …

Office Discipline Referral Narratives, Context, And Categorization, Deanna M. Bush

Education Dissertations

This two-part qualitative study examined the experiences of students with disabilities (SWD) in the middle school discipline. Phase one was a qualitative document analysis study that examined school discipline for SWD through the lens of Critical Disability Theory (CDT), Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), Constructivist Learning Theory, and the Vulnerable Decision Point model (VDP) in a midsize suburban district in Washington state. The study explored alignment of ODR teacher-written narratives with behavioral categories assigned to the ODR at the time of issue to determine variance based on behavior category or student disability status. Phase two a semi-structured interview (shown on …

The Perspectives Of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Plus (Others) Teachers On The Enactment Of Their Identities At Work Amid Adverse Legislation, Mandy Rhea Manning

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Racism In The Science And Practice Of Psychotherapy, Richard E. Redding, Craig L. Frisby

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

We discuss a recent controversy that occurred in The Cognitive Behavioural Therapist over whether Lilienfeld’s critical views on microaggressions theory and research reflect racist beliefs, as alleged by some. This is one of many recent examples of a profoundly antiscientific practice whereby racism allegations chill scientific debate and open inquiry on important research issues. This produces an overtly politicized science that has a corrosive effect on scientific progress and ultimately the useful application of research in clinical practice. The microaggressions controversy provides an especially useful vehicle for challenging this state of affairs given the widespread application of microaggressions theory, including …

Participants’ And Physiotherapists’ Views On The Delivery Of A Randomised Controlled Feasibility Trial Investigating A Bespoke Dynamic Elastomeric Fabric Orthosis For Women With Chronic Pelvic Girdle Pain: A Qualitative Exploration, Bradley Halliday, Jennifer Freeman, Sarah Chatfield, Lee Cameron, Kirsty Carter, Joanne Hosking, Jill Shawe

School of Health Professions

Background: Chronic pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PPGP) affects approximately 10–30% of postpartum women beyond 3 months. Such pain is typically recalcitrant to standard care. A dynamic elastomeric fabric orthosis (DEFO) is one option. A feasibility randomised controlled trial (fRCT) assessed the feasibility and acceptability of trial design, interventions and data collection. The aim of this qualitative sub-study was to explore the experience of women participating in the feasibility trial, and physiotherapists delivering the trial intervention. Methods: An embedded qualitative study within a fRCT. The fRCT randomised participants to either control (standard care involving advice and exercise) or intervention (standard care …

Item Selection Rules For Content Adaptive Progress Testing, Gergo Pinter, Nuno Santos, José Miguel Pêgo, Daniel Zahra, Steven Burr

Peninsula Medical School

Content adaptive progress testing (CAPT) introduces a new approach to longitudinal testing of candidates who take progress tests as part of their educational program. CAPT assessments adapt between subsequent assessments, tailoring items on an individual level to assist each candidate in demonstrating knowledge across many topics which are all mapped to the overall course learning outcomes. In this way, success is measured by topic completion on an individual level. Some of the key benefits include a truly personalized learning experience, with individual feedback throughout, while also tracking each candidate’s progress against a single long-term goal of demonstrating attainment across all …

Profiles Of Family Engagement In Head Start, Elizabeth Jane Tremaine

Dissertations and Theses

Families of young children are active participants in their child's transition to kindergarten. Head Start is designed to facilitate families' engagement in their child's learning experiences (Head Start Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Framework, 2018). This study explores family engagement in Head Start, its changes across the transition into kindergarten, and its relation to children's development of social-emotional and executive function skills.

The current study addresses limitations of previous research by relying on family perspectives of family engagement, approaching family engagement as a developmental concept, and taking a person-centered analytic approach that accounts for the multi-dimensionality of family engagement. This …

Entre La Lucha: Familismo And Well-Being Of Latino Immigrant Families Navigating Manual Labor And Anti-Immigrant Sentiment, Faviola Robles Saenz

Dissertations and Theses

The United States' history of treatment toward Latino immigrants has been shaped by anti-immigrant sentiment and exploitative labor practices, creating psychological violence that harms their families' well-being. Although previous research has examined anti-immigrant sentiment, labor conditions, and familismo among Latinos, these areas are often studied in isolation, with limited attention to their intersections and how they are experienced across generations. Informed by history, prior research, and my lived experiences, this study qualitatively explored the intersections of anti-immigrant sentiment and parents' manual labor to understand how these contexts shape familismo and well-being among Latino immigrant families. This work was grounded in …

Polygenic Risk Scores, Sex, And Socioeconomic Factors As Predictors Of Age Of Onset For Major Depressive Disorder, Kaitlyn M. Nowak

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a heterogeneous psychiatric condition influenced by genetic, sociodemographic, and environmental factors, yet the extent to which these factors jointly shape the timing of disease onset remains unclear. This study evaluated the effects of polygenic risk scores (PRS), sex, and socioeconomic status (SES) on age of onset for MDD across two independent cohorts: the Pharmacogenomics Research Network Antidepressant Medication Pharmacogenomics Study (PGRN-AMPS) (N = 486) and the All of Us Research Program (N = 8,014). Analyses were restricted to individuals of European genetic ancestry, and PRS were constructed using both European-ancestry (EA) and multi-ancestry (MA) genome-wide …

The Impact Of Social Media Use For Service Delivery By Library Personnel In Nigeria., Jamiu Adewale Abdulsalam, Soliudeen Idowu Sanni, Shasil Adedoyin Opoola

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study examined how social media is impacting service delivery by the library personnel in two universities of Ogun State, Nigeria. A descriptive survey design, correlational type was followed and a total enumeration sampling technique was applied to get all 105 members of the library staff from the two selected universities. Data were gathered using a structured questionnaire, which was developed to capture the social media patterns of users and service delivery. Descriptive statistics (frequency counts, percentages, means, and standard deviations) and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation) were used for data analysis. It was found that the most common library services …

Growth In Early Infancy Drives Optimal Brain Functional Connectivity Which Predicts Cognitive Flexibility In Later Childhood, Chiara Bulgarelli, Anna Blasi, Samantha Mccann, Bosiljka Milosavljevic, Giulia Ghillia, Ebrima Mbye, Ebou Touray, Tijan Fadera, Lena Acolatse, Sophie E Moore, Sarah Lloyd-Fox, Clare E Elwell, Adam T Eggebrecht, Bright Study Team

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Functional brain network organisation, measured by functional connectivity (FC), reflects key neurodevelopmental processes for healthy development. Early exposure to adversity, for example undernutrition, affects neurodevelopment, observable via disrupted FC, and leads to poorer outcomes from preschool age onwards. We assessed longitudinally the impact of early growth trajectories on developmental FC in a rural Gambian population from age 5-24 months. To investigate how these early trajectories relate to later childhood outcomes, we assessed cognitive flexibility at 3-5 years. We observed that early physical growth before the fifth month of life drove optimal developmental trajectories of FC that in turn predicted cognitive …

Enhancing Digital Literacy Programmes For Advanced Search Skills Of Adult Public Library Patrons, Santel Smit Ms., Nikiwe G. Momoti Dr

Urban Library Journal

Digital literacy enables individuals to confidently engage with electronic devices and digital resources. While many adults use these tools to search for information, some still lack the essential skills to do so effectively. This pragmatic paper investigates the basic digital literacy skills of adult patrons at Adriaanse Public Library in Cape Town. Framed by SCONUL Seven Pillars of Information Literacy through a Digital Literacy “lens”, we employed a sequential mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative pre- and post-tests with qualitative interviews among 30 purposively selected participants. Quantitative data was analyzed statistically while thematic analysis was used for qualitative data. The findings revealed …

Parenting Styles And Their Relationship To Cyberbullying Exposure Among High School Students: The Mediating Role Of Self-Confidence, Hesham F. Gadelrab Prof., Afnan H. Al-Muqate, Fatemah A. Al-Kandari

International Journal for Research in Education

This study examined the relationships among parenting styles, self-confidence, and cyberbullying exposure among high school students in Kuwait. It also explored differences in these variables by gender, grade level, and academic specialization, as well as the mediating role of self-confidence in the relationship between parenting styles and cyberbullying exposure. The study employed a descriptive correlational design and included 302 male and female students enrolled in the 11th and 12th grades across both science and literature tracks. Data were collected using the Self-Confidence Scale (Sanabani & Al-Tariq, 2020), the Parenting Styles Scale (Zugheer, 2007), and the Cyberbullying Scale (Hussein, 2018). The …

The Effect Of Practice Test Timing On Students’ Test Anxiety And Exam Performance, Alanood M. Al-Thani, Mutasem M. Akour

International Journal for Research in Education

This quasi-experimental study employed a switched replication design to investigate the effect of practice test timing on test anxiety and exam performance among 154 female undergraduate students. Participant groups received online practice tests either early in the semester (before the midterm) or later (before the final exam). Results indicated a significant effect of practice test timing on test anxiety. While both groups exhibited a significant decrease in test anxiety over time, this reduction was more pronounced for the group that took the practice test early. Furthermore, a significant negative correlation was found between final exam performance and test anxiety. These …