Digital Commons Network^™

The Transitional Journey From Incarceration To A College Degree Through The Lived Experiences Of Women, Marsha Milan-Bethel

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative narrative study shares the lived experiences of formerly incarcerated women, their reintegration into the community, and their journey to and through college. The eight participants span between 25 and 64 years of age, have spent varying lengths of time incarcerated, and are now either in college or recent graduates of both public and private universities. Research indicates that a large majority of incarcerated women come from economically disadvantaged communities, are vocationally unskilled, and have limited access to in-prison postsecondary programs (Mallory, 2011; Western et al., 2015). However, by earning a college credential, women rebuild their sense of self, …

An Exploration Of The Relationship Between Reading Habits And Reading Achievement In Elementary Schools, Donna M. Deodato

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the multifaceted dynamics affecting the academic performance of high-achieving elementary students on end-of-year reading exams. It examines the influences of gender, age, genre preferences, the frequency of book borrowing, and language modality of instruction, all within the context of the elementary school library. Methodologically, the study employs a quantitative correlational approach. The data source comprises students' demographics, class assignments, end-of-year reading scores, and library patron records. Through the lens of Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, this research aimed to enrich our understanding of various interconnected systems in students’ environments, such as family, school, and community, with each level …

A Qualitative Study On The Experiences Of Women Principals In Catholic Schools: What Can We Learn?, Carmen Z. Lopez

Theses and Dissertations

“Let it be known to all who enter here that Christ is the reason for this school, the unseen but ever-present Teacher in its classes, the model for its children, the inspiration for its staff.” - Anonymous. This study explored the journeys and experiences of women leaders in Catholic secondary schools, focusing on their challenges and successes. The research included six participants who held leadership positions ranging from school principal to regional superintendent and represented diverse ages and perspectives. Using a qualitative approach with a case study framework, the study drew on Ciriello’s (1996) theoretical framework and Uhl’s (2020) systemic …

Optimizing Reunification Capabilities At Outdoor Music Festivals: Empowering Social Groups To Maintain Situational Awareness Through Geofencing And Geolocation, Justin Andrew Puchalsky

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to apply Social Identity Theory concepts to a modified Technology Acceptance Model for existing application-based software technologies on android and iOS platforms in an effort to facilitate user expectations of reunification efforts for pre-planned or spontaneous evacuations of Outdoor Music Festivals (OMF). Geofencing technology combined with geolocation sharing software will enable users that “opt-in” the ability to interface, plan, and disseminate instructions when separated from their social groups. While the overarching goal will allow evacuees to maintain baseline situational/spatial awareness, the modified concept, when applied, functions as a pseudo-visual crowd analysis tool for evacuees …

The Resilience Of Trio Upward Bound Students, Kemoy Briscoe-Morris

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological qualitative study examined the intersection between TRIO Upward Bound participation and resilience theory to determine how participation in TRIO Upward Bound impacted the resiliency of its at-risk youth participants. Accordingly, the participants of this study are alumni of the federally funded TRIO Upward Bound program, a pre-collegiate initiative designed to increase the enrollment and persistence rates of at-risk youths by helping to prepare them for success at postsecondary institutions. The researcher examined the construct of resilience to provide an alternate measure of the efficacy of these programs. The researcher used artifacts, photo-elicitation, and interviews to gather data. Thematic …

Frequency Of Irrational Beliefs In Popular Music Genres And The Relationship Between Irrational Belief Concepts In Musical Lyrics And Mental Health Outcomes, Nadia Kemp

Theses and Dissertations

A popular type of media that Americans consume across ages is music. Today’s youth and adults can easily search for and listen to music. Given the increased availability of streaming music and its potential impact on people’s emotional states, this study examined the irrationality of contemporary musical lyrics. The sample consisted of the most frequently streamed songs from the years 2006-2022. A total of 1700 “Hot 100” songs from Billboard.com were collected and analyzed for Irrational Belief (IB) concepts. Genre-specific data was collected from Billboard’s “Year End Charts” for Country (n=1197), R&B/Hip Hop (n=1223), and Alternative (n=656) music for a …

Student Barriers And Motivators To Bystander Intervention If Witnessing Potential Sexual Violence On College Campuses, Jaquenette G. Lochrie

Theses and Dissertations

Bystander intervention has received increased attention as a potential sexual violence prevention strategy, primarily to address campus sexual assault (McMahon et al., 2017). Shifting the focus from potential victims and perpetrators, the bystander approach engages all members of a campus community to act by increasing positive attitudes and behaviors related to sexual violence and greater willingness to intervene in pro-social ways. This study examined associations between college students’ bystander intervention behavior and three key factors: (a) perceived self-efficacy, (b) a sense of responsibility to act, and (c) the relationship between the student bystander and the victim or perpetrator. The researcher …

Girl Power: How Can School Counselors Empower Female Students To Study Stem-Related Majors In College And Beyond?, Carly Bank

Theses and Dissertations

There is a gender gap among females studying STEM ( Technology, Engineering and Math) majors and pursuing STEM careers. More males than females pursue these majors and careers. This study explore d how high school counselors influence the choices of STEM majors for female students. The researcher explored the perspectives of seven experienced high school counselors who work with students on college exploration and career planning activities in this multi case study. The processes these counselors apply when working with female students and improving these practices so school counselors can better support their students was examined. Key findings of this …

An Analysis Of New York State Education Funding As It Relates To Minority Student Achievement, Linda Elizabeth Macias

Theses and Dissertations

he purpose of this nonexperimental quantitative study was to explore the relationship between New York State education funding for public school districts, the academic achievement of Black and Latinx students, and educational opportunity gaps that may result from a lack of access to Advanced Placement courses. These relationships were assessed with multiple linear regressions using the variables of student enrollment rates by race, English and math proficiency scores, the number of Advanced Placement, and levels of state education funding per district. The data were obtained from New York State Education Department financial reporting. The problem addressed by this study was …

A Person-Centered Approach To The Mediating Effect Of Attention On Personality Similarity And Preference Using Eye-Tracking Technology, Gabriel Jose Sanchez

Theses and Dissertations

Similarity between personality traits has been observed to be predictive of preference and desirability in social relationships in various situations. Much of the research has approached detecting personality similarity on a trait-specific level using the Five Factor Model of personality or more recently by grouping individual personalities into clustered profiles using latent profile analysis. This study of 93 participants took a person-centered approach by detecting individual differences between participants’ personality profiles and target person profiles using Euclidean distance as a dissimilarity index. We then proposed attention as a mediating factor behind the observed association between personality similarity and preference. Using …

The Association Between Cognitive Flexibility, Childhood Adversity Exposure, And Internalizing And Externalizing Symptoms, Emilie Paul

Theses and Dissertations

Adversity exposure in childhood is associated with greater risk for developing internalizing and externalizing problems throughout childhood and adolescence (Henry et al., 2021). Adversity exposure may confer risk by impacting executive function, including reduced cognitive flexibility, due to the neurobiological consequences of increased stress hormone exposure (Kavanaugh et al., 2017). Previous research has linked adversity exposure to reduced cognitive flexibility in youth (Kavanaugh et al., 2017). Lower cognitive flexibility is also associated with internalizing and externalizing problems including depression, anxiety, and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder in youth and adults (Patwardhan et al., 2021; Stange et al., 2017; Braenden et al., …

Transition Practices: Predictors Of Postsecondary Outcomes For Students With Disabilities, Karen Gross

Theses and Dissertations

For school districts to adequately prepare students with disabilities for successful post-graduation life, it is essential to understand if various variables predict postsecondary outcomes. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between gender, race/ethnicity, participation in career technical education (CTE) programs, diploma type, grade point average (GPA), disability classification, and graduation year for students with disabilities self-reported post-graduation plan of employment. The study aims to determine if the independent variables predict postsecondary outcomes for students with disabilities and to identify disparities that exist in subgroups when controlling for gender and race/ethnicity. Findings can assist educational leaders and …

From Distress To De-Stress: The Impact Of Humor On Stress Appraisal, Emotion Regulation, And Resilience, Emily Faye Kaplan

Selected Full-Text Dissertations 2020-

No abstract provided.

The Shape Of Depressive Symptom Change: Comparing Sudden And Gradual Gains In Routine Practice, Blaine Deangelis M.A., M.S.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Sudden gains, or rapid symptom reductions between two consecutive sessions, have been shown to predict better psychotherapy outcomes, especially for depression (e.g., Shalom & Aderka, 2020). However, several gaps remain in the existing literature on sudden gains, including underrepresentation of naturalistic studies and the circularity critique that it is tautological to examine symptom reduction during treatment as a predictor for overall pre to post-treatment symptom improvements. Furthermore, little is known about whether and which extra-therapeutic factors, or factors that exist within a client’s life outside treatment, are associated with sudden gains. To address these gaps, the current study examined the …

The Impact Of Loneliness Post-Pandemic And Immersed In The Upcoming Political Election, Regina M. Luttrell Ph.D., Gwen Pratt, Abigail Kludt, Amy Barone, Kwadwo Osei-Poku, Lihan Wang

Real Chemistry Emerging Insights Lab

The Real Chemistry Emerging Insights Lab emerged with a partnership between Real Chemistry and the Public Relations department at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication and serves as a multidisciplinary research center focusing on analytics, artificial intelligence, digital and emerging media for a number of organizations regarding communications.

Healthcare professionals and organizations are interested in identifying how mental health impacts different U.S. generational groups after the COVID-19 pandemic and the intersectionality of U.S. Politics. Our team focused on two generational cohorts – Generation X (1965-1980) and Generation Z (1997-2012) – as an entry point into navigating the impact of …

Ethics À La Mode: Should Ethics Apply To Artificial Intelligence, Or The Other Way Around?, Matthew Caulfield

Business Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Program Evaluation Of The Macon Area Habitat For Humanity, Eric Rice

Graduate Research Showcase

Established in 1986 as a response to the urgent demand for affordable homeownership in Macon, the Macon Area Habitat for Humanity (Macon Area HFH) has achieved notable progress by constructing 98 houses to date. This comprehensive study delineates a program evaluation with the primary objective of assessing the effectiveness of Macon Area HFH in positively impacting the lower-class population and fostering an overall increase in homeownership rates within Macon-Bibb.

Specifically, the evaluation examines the organization's influence on the lower-class population through the provision of affordable housing and elucidates its role in contributing to the broader homeownership landscape in Macon-Bibb. Additionally, …

Menopausal Awareness: Use Of A Menopausal Questionnaire To Assess Symptomology In Menopausal Transitional And Postmenopausal Women, Lori Dalcour, Debby Macmillan, Sallie Coke, Jessica Marcus

Graduate Research Showcase

INTRODUCTION: Many women experience the debilitating symptoms of hot flashes, night sweats, memory loss and vaginal dryness during the perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal period. Limited knowledge and awareness about the menopausal experience by patients and clinicians has been correlated to delays in recognizing and managing symptoms. The practice site for this quality improvement project did not have a formal process for screening, evaluating and educating patient’s menopausal awareness and goals for quality of life.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this project was to implement and evaluate a process for routinely screening and educating all patients between 40 and 65 years seen …

Employee Salary Report [University Of Missouri - St. Louis] 2024, University Of Missouri-St. Louis

UMSL Salary Report

No abstract provided.

Kappa Delta Phi And Football At Bridgewater State Normal School, Michael J. Hughes

Monograph Selections from the Archives

The BSU fraternity, Kappa Delta Phi, has had a strong connection to the Bridgewater State football program. The original Alpha chapter of the fraternity was founded by Bridgewater students in 1900, many of whom played football, along with other sports. This paper, written by Michael Hughes, class of 1965, puts both the fraternity's early years and the early years of football on campus into historical context.

An Assessment Of The Utilization Of The National Opportunity To Learn Standards In Middle-Level Music Education, Taylor Brooke Browning

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this research was to gain the music educators’ perspectives on the implementation of the 2020 National Opportunity to Learn Standards in West Virginia’s public middle school general music programs. A qualitative phenomenological approach was utilized to gather music educators’ perceptions of whether music programs in West Virginia are providing curricula aligned with the National Opportunity to Learn Standards. Through a combination of convenience and snowball sampling, 20 West Virginia public middle school general music educators were identified, and one-on-one, semi-structured interviews were conducted. Findings indicate a majority of the music programs were somewhat aligned with the National …

Beyond Trade Secrecy: Confidentiality Agreements That Act Like Noncompetes, Camilla A. Hrdy, Christopher B. Seaman

Scholarly Articles

There is a substantial literature on noncompete agreements and their adverse impact on employee mobility and innovation. But a far more common restraint in employment contracts has been underexplored: confidentiality agreements, sometimes called nondisclosure agreements (NDAs). A confidentiality agreement is not a blanket prohibition on competition. Rather, it is simply a promise not to use or disclose specific information. Confidentiality agreements encompass trade secrets, as defined by state and federal laws, but confidentiality agreements almost always go beyond trade secrecy, encompassing any information the employer imparted to the employee in confidence.

Despite widespread use, confidentiality agreements have received little attention. …

Bruce Brandt Papers, Sdsu Archives & Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library

University Archives

Dr. Bruce Edwin Brandt, an Emeritus Professor of English at South Dakota State University, has made notable contributions to the field of English Renaissance literature, with a primary focus on Shakespearean studies and Renaissance drama, prose, and poetry. This collection comprises various materials documenting Dr. Brandt's academic and professional endeavors, including committee memberships, syllabi, course outlines, exams, conference participation, research projects, and correspondence. These records provide valuable insights into Dr. Brandt's scholarly achievements and his on the academic community.

Annual Report Of Undergraduate Research Fellows From August 2023 To May 2024, Office Of Research And Sponsored Programs. Morehead State University.

Office of Research and Sponsored Programs Reports and Publications

Annual Report of Undergraduate Research Fellows from August 2023 to May 2024.

Maintaining Well-Being Within A Culture Of Ableism: The False Self, Defenses, And The Disability Identity, Nina Therese Bakoyiannis

Selected Full-Text Dissertations 2020-

Disabled individuals face rampant discrimination in the form of ableist microaggressions (Kattari, 2019) and healthcare neglect (Komisar et al., 2005; Power & Bartlett, 2019), yet research on the impact of ableism on well-being is lacking. Watermeyer (2012) posits that disabled people employ necessary defensive strategies to cope with the reality of such oppressive confounds, such as Winnicott’s False Self (1960)—the artificial persona one consciously or unconsciously employs to protect oneself from social rejection. However, in the only study known to the researcher that assesses the role of the False Self within the disability community, Eichengreen & Hoofien (2017) explore discriminatory …

The Bias Presumption, Bradley A. Areheart, Dave Hall

Scholarly Works

The American workplace is a fractured sphere of public life, in which white men often wield power at the expense of women and people of color. However, that power imbalance is no longer fully imbued with the active animus that characterized the first few centuries of American life; now, much of the damage done by discrimination is done structurally and implicitly. Consequently, the operation of bias and disadvantage is often invisible to employers and employees alike. The problem of discrimination in American life is thus larger and deeper than a few bad actors, and it will be impossible to solve …

Fleeing Terror In Southern Mexico: Why Numerous Guerrero Refugees Qualify For Asylum, International Human Rights Clinic Of Seattle University School Of Law, Kino Border Initiative

International Human Rights Clinic

This report sheds light on the crisis confronting residents of Guerrero, a state in Southern Mexico plagued by rampant, indiscriminate violence and human rights violations. It utilizes research and first-person interviews to methodically provide a rationale for granting these refugees asylum under U.S. law.

A Comparative Study On Parent Engagement Through The Lens Of Instrumental Music, Chad Altman

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Lowel Mason highlights the importance of integrating music learning into the curriculum alongside other fundamental skills such as reading, promoting his belief in the transformative power of music education and its impact on child development. Mason stated, “Children must be taught music as they are taught to read” (Pemberton, 1992). The benefits of music extend beyond mere enjoyment among children, as they actively participate in class by singing, dancing, and playing instruments. The arts offer cognitive benefits that extend beyond student engagement, and researchers continue to explore the association between music and academic achievement. Participating in a string orchestra or …

The Healing Power Of Active Imagination On Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms And Wellbeing: A Mixed-Method Exploratory Study, Joshua Rutt, Jenny Wade

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies Advance Publication Archive

Despite many treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), recovery is often moderate at best. and symptoms often persist after treatment. This mixed-method study explored whether an active imagination protocol could serve as an effective low-cost, drug-free intervention for complex PTSD or persisting symptoms after a traumatic event. Seventeen participants were assessed using the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS), Multiscale Dissociation Inventory (MDI), and the Ryff Scales of Psychological Wellbeing (PWB) before and after a four-session, one-to-one active imagination intervention. On average, all quantitative scores significantly improved from baseline, and every subscale improved. For the sample average, PTSD symptoms decreased by 32%, …

Niu Working Papers 2023-2024, Northern Illinois University

Working Papers

No abstract provided.