Digital Commons Network^™

Balancing Act: An Exploration Of Polarities In Personal And Professional Life, Hana Mamnoon

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

This purpose of this project is to explore the concept of polarities. I have been using creative problem solving for years, but recently, I have come to realize that some of the complexities we face in our everyday lives are not actually problems to solve, but rather are polarities to manage (Johnson, 2014). By undertaking this project, I aimed to build my skill set around polarity management in order to help me develop in both my personal and professional spheres. This project allowed me to explore some of the literature of polarities as well as put the concepts into practice …

The Phygital Design Process: Using Emerging Technologies To Create A Phygital Fashion Brand Rooted In Nostalgia, Madeline M. Mcdaniel

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

This Master's Project is a comprehensive exploration of the intersection of digital fashion design, nostalgia, and sustainable practices. Its primary objective is to create 'project CYBERBAE,' a phygital fashion collection that draws inspiration from early 2000s video game characters, trends, and aesthetics. The project utilizes advanced digital tools like Clo3D to demonstrate a comprehensive digital fashion design process that emphasizes inclusivity and sustainability. It also pioneers the development of a 3D virtual world, providing users with an immersive environment to interact with and experience digital fashion. This virtual space serves as a platform for a community of fashion, technology, and …

The Infinite Design Of Creative Self-Leadership, Adrian T. Ashdown

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

The purpose of my Master’s of Science in Creativity and Change Leadership Project is to develop a Scope and Sequence for a Creative Self-Leadership course, providing participants with a structured framework for intentional personal growth and leadership development. The Infinite Design of Creative Self-Leadership serves as an individualized framework for influencing our human experience deliberately. Throughout this project, the core idea remains consistent: to teach creativity as a transferable skill with applications beyond traditional educational settings. The culmination of this endeavor will result in a comprehensive Scope & Sequence for The Infinite Design Creative Self-Leadership Course, offering participants a solid …

Lived Experiences, Migration Journey, Religiosity, And Spirituality Depicted In Drawings By Latino Children And Youth Crossing The U.S. Mexican Border: A Qualitative Study., Doroty Magalhaes Sato

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Widespread violence forces thousands of Central American children to endure a hazardous journey toward the U.S. Border seeking refuge. In the Latino community, faith serves as a social movement of resistance against oppression, playing a vital role in migration. There is a paucity of research documenting this experience and children's overall journey. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the lived experience of crossing international borders, religiosity, and spirituality depicted in Latino children's drawings used as coping methods to endure the journey toward the U.S. southern border. This investigation employed Art-based approaches to give voices to children's experiences by analyzing 63 …

Understanding The Multidimensional Ramifications Of Education Censorship To Promote Justice-Oriented School Social Work., Brandon D. Mitchell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Since 2020, recensions on youth rights and education censorship have been backed by a network of actors and organizations on the political Right, evidenced by race and diversity curricula bans, book bans, and inflammatory media discourse. The scope and prevalence of education censorship are understudied with little known about the policies enacted, and influences of media discourse, school boards, and the effects on schools and the school social worker. The purpose of this dissertation is to explore and understand the scope and prevalence of education censorship, including policies, media discourse, school boards, and schools. To achieve the aims of this …

Engaging For A Cause: How Nonprofits Can Leverage Theory To Maximize Video Engagement On Instagram., Aiko A. A. A. Jones

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Video is the second-richest form of media, conveying both verbal and nonverbal cues to viewers (Hasim et al., 2020). When coupled with the accessibility of social media, videos can spark consumer interest and convert neutral parties to brand-supporters (Alamäki et al., 2019; Tseng & Wei, 2020). This study aimed to investigate the effects of using Aristotle’s persuasive appeals, Berger’s STEPPS, and Monroe’s Motivated Sequence on the success of nonprofit organizations’ social media videos, measured in engagement metrics (likes and comments). Through a content analysis of 50 videos posted to Instagram by randomly selected nonprofit organizations, this study found that pathos …

Social Undermining Among Police Officers In The United States., Weston B. Anderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Policing is a large and critical part of the American criminal justice system. Although a focal study group for research, little is known of how social undermining impacts police officers and organizations. Social undermining can cause a variety of negative consequences, including lower job satisfaction, reduction in work-related outcomes, and mental and physical health problems (Duffy et al., 2002; Hershcovis & Barling, 2010; Sabeen & Arshad, 2019). To date, no study has examined social undermining in police officers within the United States. This qualitative research examined social undermining among police officers. Using a blend of inductive and deductive thematic analysis, …

That Limbless Sign The Thesis Document., Donna R. Charging

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Native American Art resists all attempts by non-Natives to define, restrain, and replicate it. THAT LIMBLESS SIGN is a concrete substantiation of this quality of resistance through the scope of language. Native Art indicates a continuity, not of tradition, but of people. In THAT LIMBLESS SIGN, Native people become signs; that is, inimitable cipher devices of the real, living members of tribes who remain in the United States of America. Language is one of the last refuges of Native existence because it represents the point of power where Native realities cannot be transcribed into a superficial, indelible system such as …

Fingerprinting Cinematic Soundtracks: Examining Identity In Film Music Through Gender And Temporality., Sarah Elizabeth Moser

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the soundtracks of six Hollywood films and their treatments of two factors of cinematic identity – gender and temporality. Six case studies are used throughout the thesis using an original analytic system I designate as Fingerprinting, which examines film using a five-tier, intersecting system on both the macro and micro level. The gender chapter analyzes Weird Science (1985) and Pretty Woman (1990) in order to demonstrate the utility of the cinematic soundtrack in constructing new frameworks of gender expression within fictional media. The temporality chapter uses four case studies - Easy Rider (1969), Eddie and the Cruisers …

Phenomenological Study Of The Impact Of Stress And Burnout After Covid-19 On Educators: Supporting Teachers In Resiliency And Facilitating Adversarial Growth Post-Pandemic., Rebecca Hicks-Hawkins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

COVID-19 has not only caused anxiety and fears among teachers for their own health and that of their families; they are also facing increased responsibility. Planning periods had been replaced with coverage periods, where teachers must teach other classes when their colleagues are out—often due to illness—because the supply of substitute teachers cannot meet the demand (Barton & Dickason, 2022). Teaching is a demanding profession, and there will always be stress associated with a job where so many external factors come into play (Hansen, 2013). However, in the face of adversity some teachers were thriving. They are showing up and …

A Qualitative Inquiry Into The Intersectionality Of Race, Gender, And Social Networks In Stem Education., La'ree Alexandria Shontee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the intersectional experiences of Black women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education by focusing on the strategic utilization of social capital to navigate systemic barriers and challenges. The unique struggles faced by Black women within predominantly white and male-dominated STEM programs are addressed in this study. Drawing on a growing body of literature, this research diverges from prevailing narratives of disinterest in or departure from STEM programs and instead illuminates proactive strategies employed by Black women. Through an exploration of social capital - encompassing networks, resources, and support systems - this study offers a comprehensive …

A Qualitative Exploration Of Social Capital And Its Influence On Baccalaureate Degree Completion Of First-Generation African American Men At The University Of Louisville., Joseph Marshall Goodman Iii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative dissertation was designed to examine influences which various forms of social capital have on post-secondary degree attainment of first-generation individuals who self-identify as African American men. Additionally, the sample population consisted of Black men who successfully matriculated to earn baccalaureate credentials across differing academic disciplines at a public historically White institution located in the mid-south region of the United States. The research data was extracted from one-on-one, semi-structured interviews using authentic dialogue through open-ended questions. Theoretical paradigms of the study involved a phenomenological approach and an ontological philosophical assumption, integrated with critical theory, critical race theory and social …

A Systematic Review Of Mental Health Of Women In Fragile And Humanitarian Settings Of The Eastern Mediterranean Region, Fauziah Rabbani, Aysha Zahidie, Amna Siddiqui, Sanam Shah, Zul Merali, Khalid Saeed, Mohamed Afifi

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: The increasing emergencies and humanitarian challenges have worsened the mental health condition of women in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Aim: To assess the prevalence, determinants and interventions to address mental health among women in fragile and humanitarian settings in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Methods: Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis guidelines, we reviewed 59 peer-reviewed published studies (PubMed, IMEMR) and grey literature (WHO/IRIS) from January 2001 to February 2023, focusing on women's mental health in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. We then conducted a descriptive analysis of the sociodemographic characteristics.

Results: Among …

How To Invest In Healthy Relationships, Brad Hinman

Lake Union Herald

No abstract provided.

Perceptions Of Metabolic Syndrome Management Utilization In Relation With Patient Characteristics And Health-Related Quality Of Life, Olajide Adekunle

Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) Dissertations

Challenges in managing MetS include untreated risk factors and ineffective management, resulting in poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL). A significant factor contributing to these challenges is the underutilization of management services, possibly due to patients' perceptions of disease management resource utilization (PMU). Therefore, understanding patients' PMU is crucial for improving health outcomes. The study investigated PMU, explored PMU predictors, and investigated the impact of PMU and patients’ demographics on HRQoL. Using a cross-sectional design, data on perceptions of healthcare, medication, and pharmacy service utilization, prior experience with pharmacy services, demographics, and HRQoL were collected from adult individuals with obesity …

What Stories Do Rural Youth Tell About Future Orientation In Their Communities? Implications For Rural Positive Youth Development, Hannah Joy Falcone

Master's Theses and Capstones

It is a tale as old as time; rural youth have a well-developed pattern of outmigration from their hometowns, largely driven by aspirations of achieving education or specialized career opportunities available elsewhere. This qualitative study explores the positive youth development (PYD) experiences of youth living in rural, northern New England communities, including how interactions with rural school, community and work engagement, and experiences out in nature are described as important in future orientation in rural spaces. Virtual interviews were conducted with 18 youth (ages 14-19). Qualitative themes were developed through an inductive coding strategy, alongside a deductive structured coding strategy …

Characterizing Modality And Cognitive Effects In Implicit-Statistical Learning: Theoretical Implications For Language Learning In Adults, Katelyn Lerner

Master's Theses and Capstones

This study examined the presence of modality and cognitive effects within implicit statistical learning (ISL) to characterize how it operates within the context of language learning. The first research aim looked to investigate differences in ISL performance as it relates to modality, specifically auditory versus visual formats. Additionally, the relationship between cognitive measures and ISL task performance was investigated to characterize potential interactions between learning and cognition. In this study healthy adults between the ages of 18-35 were administered auditory and visual ISL experimental tasks. Participants were familiarized with a target grammar pattern in an exposure phase. After the exposure …

Assessing Visitor Preferences For Reservation Systems In Parks And Protected Areas: Insights From The Green Mountain National Forest, Ridgley Jordan Ward

Master's Theses and Capstones

The use of reservation systems in parks and protected areas has recently increased across the United States, influenced by factors such as carrying capacity and social distancing measures during COVID-19. This study employs stated choice modeling to examine visitor preferences for reservation systems at the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont, USA, using a combined mail-back and online survey approach (n=629) during the summer of 2023. Our analysis focused on several key factors: ecological integrity, permit acquisition, crowding, parking wait times, and price. Findings reveal that ecological impacts, such as visible signs of litter or vegetative damage, significantly influenced visitor …

Interprofessional Education In Healthcare Related Social Work: A Systematic Review, Devon Vitti

Social Work Doctoral Dissertations

The demand and need for social workers to enter the healthcare field continues to grow in the United States, particularly in integrated care settings working with other healthcare professionals. Social workers bring a unique perspective to the table, particularly when it comes to understanding and addressing intricate health issues like social determinants of health and social inequalities impacting individuals. However, they face numerous obstacles that hinder their ability to function optimally. These challenges begin during their undergraduate and graduate education, where there is a disparity among social work schools regarding the implementation of Interprofessional Education (IPE). This is partly due …

Actualizing Unwritten Operatic Conventions: Oral Transmission And The Work-Concept, Jessie Miller

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Controversy around the actualization of unwritten conventions in operatic performance has become an inescapable reality over the course of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The “work-concept”, the term coined by Lydia Goehr, is the strongly held conception in Western music that pieces of music are concrete and immutable, and therefore should not be changed. It is because of this concept that performance controversy exists; a performance that is not viewed to have represented an opera “correctly” is responsible for infringing on the central governing tenet of Western art music performance. I seek to prove that the diametrically opposed ideas of …

Go Greek Or Cry Trying: The Relationship Between Sorority Recruitment And Self-Esteem, Mary Katherine Daley

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

The present study delves into the relationship between sorority recruitment and self-esteem among college women, investigating the impact of participation in the recruitment process on individuals' perceptions of self-worth and their attitudes towards sorority life and recruitment. Data was gathered from 264 female-identifying participants at Butler University during the 2024 formal sorority recruitment period. A survey was administered both before and after recruitment, which assessed participants' self-esteem, desire to join a sorority, expectations of sorority life, and perceptions of recruitment's necessity and positivity. Contrary to initial expectations, participants who withdrew from recruitment did not exhibit lower positive self-esteem levels post-recruitment. …

The History Of Gender-Biased Clinical Testing And Its Effects On Pharmaceutical Drug Efficacy, Kathryn E. Olson

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Concerns about potential risks that clinical research could impose to women of childbearing potential have long dictated pharmaceutical clinical trials. In the United States, women were not allowed to participate in clinical trials for decades, which has had major implications on the pharmaceutical industry today. Due to this oversight, men and women are commonly prescribed drugs at the same dosage despite many sex-specific differences in how male/female bodies respond to drugs during exposure. It is now known that female bodies metabolize drugs much slower than male bodies, which means that women who are prescribed drugs at the same rate as …

Does Anxiety Systematically Bias Estimates Of Executive Functioning Deficits In Pediatric Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder?, Carolyn L. Marsh, Sherelle L. Harmon, Sooyun Cho, Elizabeth S.M. Chan, Fatou Gaye, Lauren Degeorge, Katie E. Black, Lauren N. Irwin Harper, Michael J. Kofler

Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Growing evidence suggests that childhood ADHD is associated with larger impairments in working memory relative to inhibition. However, most studies have not considered the role of co-occurring anxiety on these estimates – a potentially significant confound given prior evidence that anxiety may increase working memory difficulties but decrease inhibition difficulties for these children. The current study extends prior work to examine the extent to which co-occurring anxiety may be systematically affecting recent estimates of the magnitude of working memory/inhibitory control deficits in ADHD. The carefully-phenotyped sample included 197 children with ADHD and 142 children without ADHD between the ages of …

Exposing The Conflicting Cultural Narratives Of Downtown Springdale, Jennifer Sandoval-Salinas

Interior Design Undergraduate Honors Theses

This capstone project examines the relationship between seen and unseen acts of gentrification, displacement, and cultural preservation during the revitalization of the downtown area of Springdale, Arkansas. Gentrification and displacement are social issues of concern in the Northwest Arkansas region as it is experiencing economic growth and population increase. By means of a creative and artistic inquiry the study uncovers the traditions and identities that continue to shape Springdale’s unique cultural heritage through a multifaceted approach. The study includes a demographic analysis, historical examination, community engagement, and case studies which all collectively inform a comprehensive graphic analysis that interprets current …

Reimagining The Grocery Shopping Experience, Isabel Provisor Lemery

Interior Design Undergraduate Honors Theses

This research investigates the design and implementation of a Smart Shopping Cart system aimed at enhancing the shopping experience and providing nutritional education to consumers. The study begins with a comprehensive store observation across various grocery stores, including Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, Harps, and Aldi, to gather information on current in-store environments. Detailed measurements and assessments are conducted on shopping carts, baskets, circulation paths, and signage, as well as the functionality of mobile apps offered by each store. Based on these observations, design suggestions for the Smart Shopping Cart system are proposed. The Smart Shopping Cart design incorporates two different-sized …

Addressing Youth Cannabis Poisonings In Paterson, Nj, Fanny Lauby

Department of Political Science and Law Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This report has found that various local stores within the city of Paterson have been packaging and displaying cannabis items in a similar fashion to candies popular with children, thus leading to instances of children purchasing these items and consuming them. This highlights issues surrounding enforcement of various New Jersey statutes regulating the distribution of cannabis items to those under the age of 21. This negligence at the hands of store owners has helped contribute to the increase of cannabis poisonings due to being so easily accessible by children. The increased normalization of cannabis uses with its legalization and the …

Family’S Perceived Needs And Satisfaction With Intensive Care Services: A Questionnaire-Based Prospective Observational Study, Viha Atri, Margiben Tusharbhai Bhatt, Souvik Chaudhuri, Aarohi Mitra

Open Access archive

Background: Holistic intensive care management involves the treatment of critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) as well as catering to family psychosocial needs helping in bettering satisfaction/perception of care. There is scarce data in the Indian intensive care setting regarding the same, especially in times of increasing end-of-life practices. Our study aimed to determine the factors impacting family perception/satisfaction with intensive care. Materials and methods: A total of 336 family bystanders of patients in ICU with more than 72 hours of stay were surveyed using family satisfaction in the ICU 24 revised (FS-ICU 24R) questionnaire. Results: Multivariable …

Beyond Rehabilitation: Exploring The Field Of Occupational Therapy And The Transformative Impact Of Care, Sierra C. Fox

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

As a profession that implements unique approaches to empower people of all ages and abilities to actively participate in activities that are meaningful to them, occupational therapy is an essential service for providing holistic healthcare (Darawsheh, 2018). As an undergraduate approaching graduation, the process for applying to graduate school programs has finally begun, and it has become obvious the lack of public knowledge there is regarding the profession. Even among other healthcare professionals, there is often an inadequate understanding of the field, which can be problematic and result in patients not being referred to receive the services that may benefit …

Data Driven Instruction In Teaching Poetry Analysis To Advanced Placement Literature And Composition Seniors, Andrea Reyes

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

The goal of the poetry unit was to enhance students’ written ability by analyzing a variety of poetic literature to answer advanced placements practice prompts. I used the following research-based instructional strategies: homework and practice, nonlinguistic representations, and cooperative learning. I used the following research-based assessment strategies: essay writing, Quizizz, exit ticket, and topic, evidence, and analysis responses. The standards that the unit addressed are: LA.12.RP.2 Analyze the development and interaction of literary elements such as characterization, setting, and plot, and how they contribute to the meaning of the work as a whole, LA.12.V.2 Interpret an author’s use of figurative, …

Spiking Engagement: Analyzing Social Media Tactics And Fan Interaction In The Omaha Supernovas, Anne Thomas

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

The available engagement of social media for firms and their target market is unmatched. Rather than a one-way communication, it is an open channel. Potential customers can share their thoughts and feelings on the firms’ products and services, and firms can connect with their customers and create brand loyalty. This opens opportunities for marketers to look at new ways and strategies to connect with their customers. This is the same for professional sports teams. Just like a traditional firm, professional sports teams rely on being able to connect with and sell to their target market.

The newly established Omaha Supernovas …