Digital Commons Network^™

A Systematic Review: Learning Emotion Regulation With Virtual Reality, David Boyd Bobo

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This systematic review explored how immersive virtual reality (IVR) can help people manage emotions like stress and anxiety by analyzing existing studies. It highlighted therapies such as mindfulness, compassion therapy, and exposure therapy, showing how IVR can teach effective emotion-regulation skills. Researchers also identified innovative tools, like biofeedback, which uses physical signals such as heart rate to help people understand and control their emotional responses.

Interactive and gamified approaches, like Stressjam and Deep, demonstrated practical uses of IVR for mental health support. While the review confirmed IVR's potential in therapy, it also revealed gaps in research, particularly in applying …

On The Multi-Modal Psychological Experience Of Competence In Youth Sport, Liam O'Neil

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Over the past half century, beliefs about athleticism (i.e., sport competence) have been thought of as central to motivation for youth sport. In this time, however, these competence beliefs have been narrowly studied which has limited their value in explaining youth sport participation. To expand our understanding of competence beliefs and their motivational significance in youth sport, the three studies of this dissertation tested a longstanding but understudied idea that competence beliefs encompass both judgments of, and emotions about, competence. In Study One, existing research on judgments of competence in youth sport was reviewed. This study showed that many personal …

Agrichemical Surfactant And Pathogen Impacts On The Blue Orchard Bee (Osmia Lignaria Say, Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), Mary-Kate F. Williams

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Pathogens that infect commercially reared bee species, such as honey bees and bumble bees, have been extensively studied within the last several years, and studies that explore pathogen impacts on solitary bee health are significantly fewer. Consistent pesticide exposure methods are limited to honey bees and do not outline exposure routes to solitary bees, including how to test chemical impacts on immature stages. My research investigated blue orchard bee survival, development, and immune response following pathogen exposure while simultaneously studying organosilicone surfactant (OSS) exposure and possible synergisms between these two stressors. In my first research chapter (Chapter 2), I define …

Attachment, Emotional Experiencing, And Physiological Response During Couple Interaction, Kyla Iverson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

In this master’s thesis, I conducted a study using data from 63 hetereosexual couples from a previous research study done by Dr. Ryan Seedall. These couples participated in a micro-intervention where each partner discussed personal issues for three to four minutes while the other received guidance on supportive responses, promoting open communication. Using this data, I conducted a coding project studying the relationship between attachment styles and emotional experiencing, specifically how attachment styles intersect with emotional experiences, moment-to-moment feelings, and physiological arousal. This coding project involved utilizing the Emotional Experiencing Scale (EXP) by Klein and colleagues (1986) to observe couple …

The Impact Of Absolute Education On Young Voter Turnout, Reagan Roark

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

American civic education continually proves to need attention and reform. This research evaluates whether implementing specific teaching strategies at the high school level impacts a student's future political participation; specifically, to more clearly outline whether a high school level civics curriculum directly impacts a student's likelihood to cast a voting ballot in midterm and presidential elections within six years of graduation. This paper aims to understand better if teaching and/or education reform is effective in helping future generations and the democratic fate of our country. In this study, we measure the current state civic graduation requirements compared with the state's …

Dissemination Trial Of Provider Training Of Act-Enhanced Behavior Therapy (A-Ebt) For Trichotillomania: A Waitlist Controlled Study, Mercedes G. Woolley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Trichotillomania is a mental health disorder where individuals compulsively pull on their hair, leading to distress and life challenges. Although effective treatments like habit reversal training (HRT) and ACT-enhanced behavior therapy (A-EBT) exist, many health providers lack knowledge about these approaches. This study aimed to close that gap by training therapists in A-EBT through an online workshop and follow-up consultations. Over 100 therapists participated, and those who completed the training gained more knowledge about trichotillomania, felt more confident in their ability to treat the condition, and were more likely to promote their services, leading to more people getting the care …

Calculation Of Aerodynamic Surface Sensitivities Using The Adjoint Method In A Subsonic/Supersonic Panel Code, Nathan H. Hoch

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

An aircraft’s shape has a direct impact on the lift and drag it produces. In the early stages of designing an aircraft on a computer, engineers work to improve aircraft performance and efficiency by considering various shapes and configurations. Engineers use computer programs to analyze different designs and predict how each would perform in real-world conditions. Once an approximate aircraft shape is selected, adjustments to the shape can further improve the aircraft’s lift and drag characteristics. Engineers calculate a set of values called sensitivities that indicate which parts of the geometry should be changed to increase lift or reduce drag. …

Leadership, Identity, And Student Voice In Secondary Schools, Gordon S. Geddes

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Many student leadership programs in U.S. high schools operate without clear guidance, often leaving students as passive participants in systems that may not effectively prepare them for leadership roles both in school settings and elsewhere. This study explores how listening to students’ voices can improve leadership programs by better understanding how young people see themselves as leaders. Using a case study approach at one school, I observed student leaders over one school year and analyzed their experiences through leadership development theories. The findings suggest that when schools take students' perspectives into account, they can create leadership programs that are more …

Contrastive Representation Learning For Highly Imbalanced Multivariate Time Series With Extreme Instance Strategy, Onur Vural

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Time series data refers to a sequence of data points collected or recorded at regular time intervals. In many fields including space weather, healthcare, and finance, predicting events from such data is crucial because these predictions can help protect infrastructures, improve healthcare outcomes, and forecast financial trends. However, one challenge in working with time series data is the presence of rare events, which are often underrepresented in the data. This imbalance makes it difficult for traditional prediction methods to provide accurate results, as they tend to focus more on the more frequent events and overlook the rare ones. To tackle …

Disentangling Factors Contributing To Population Performance Of Zion Bighorn Sheep, Ian Montgomery

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Bighorn sheep populations across the western United States face increasing challenges from habitat loss, disease, and predation. In Zion National Park and surrounding areas, survey-based estimates indicate that the desert bighorn sheep population declined from over 800 individuals in 2018 to fewer than 500 in 2021. Understanding what drives these population changes is critical for effective wildlife management and conservation. This research examined key factors influencing population growth and individual survival to inform strategies for recovery in this bighorn population.

First, we analyzed which vital rates contributed most to population trends by estimating survival and reproduction rates from ground and …

Critically Assessing Normative Methods And Their Limitations In Managing Crowding Within Parks And Protected Areas, Glendon R. Vansandt

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Visitor experiences in parks and protected areas are shaped by a variety of environmental, managerial, and social factors. To ensure that visitors enjoy their time in these spaces, management agencies often adopt guidelines to establish acceptable levels for different aspects of these experiences. One of the most selected factors is perceived crowding, which reflects how crowded visitors feel in a given area. When perceived crowding exceeds desired levels, it can significantly diminish visitor satisfaction.

This thesis presents two studies aimed at identifying the shortcomings of the management of perceived crowding. The first study conducts a comprehensive literature review that identifies …

Caregiver Implemented Standardized To Individualized Behavior Analytic Toilet Training Package For Autistic Preschoolers, Jessica A. Osos

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Autistic children often face challenges with toilet training and may benefit from a more structured and systematic approach compared to methods used for neurotypical children. While research and literature in this area has shown that behavior analytic toilet training packages can lead to increasing successful urinations and reducing accidents for autistic children, limitations such as not including caregivers as the individuals implementing the package, unsustainable sit schedules, and lack of acceptable levels of checks for accurate data collection and implementation of procedures highlight the need for refining of implementation oversight and examination of updated toileting procedures without the use of …

Investigating Stability Of Cone-Derived Hypersonic Waverider Vehicles Via Design Space Exploration, Adam S. Weaver

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

It may come as no surprise that man-made objects flying at 5, 10, or even 25 the speed of sound (termed hypersonic) are difficult to design, inefficient in flight, and expensive to deploy. Most hypersonic vehicles are effectuated in ballistics, which simplify aerodynamic considerations owing to their fixed trajectory. However, maneuverable hypersonic vehicles can revolutionize commercial flight, national defense, and space travel. One candidate for such missions are waverider vehicles. Waverider vehicles cruise on a cushion of air generated by its own shock wave, essentially enjoying extra lift without any extra drag penalties (which are usually inherent to extra …

The Role Of Mindset In The Academic Resilience Of Non-Residential Health Profession Students: A Phenomenological Study, Julie Lynn Branagan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of academic resilience of non-residential healthcare students in rural regions of the Northeast United States. The theoretical framework guiding this study was Carol Dweck's theory on growth mindset, as it exposed the relationship of personal perspective on academic resiliency. This study attempted to answer the central research question: What are the lived experiences of academic resilience among non-residential health profession students? An extensive review of the literature revealed the compounding aspects of resilience research with specific attention to health profession students. Data collection methods included a letter-writing …

Nursing Faculty Experiences Of Teaching Dementia Care: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Jeannie Simpson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of nursing faculty teaching dementia care to nursing students in Texas. The theory guiding this study was Kolb’s experiential learning theory as it offers a structured framework for examining how experiences lead to learning. This theory also introduced the concept of the Experiential Educator profile, specifically delineating the role of educators in facilitating knowledge acquisition (Kolb, 2014). This study bridged the gap in existing literature regarding the experiences of nursing faculty in teaching dementia care to nursing students and provided a comprehensive look at dementia education in nursing schools. …

Development In Comprehensive Onboarding Training And Professional Development For Online Adjunct Faculty, Leslie R. Stover

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Hiring online adjunct faculty in higher education continues to grow, encompassing nearly half of the overall faculty population. As four-year institutions rely on the benefits of adjunct faculty, they must also invest in their orientation and continuous development. Existing literature confirms the varied approaches to supporting adjunct faculty, deficiency in coordinated programming, and reveals a lack of understanding in adjunct faculty's perception of training delivered. Using a qualitative phenomenological design, this study explored the gap between the onboarding and professional development an institution provides and the online adjunct faculty’s perception of its effectiveness. The research questions explored the lived experiences …

Researching Research Leaders: A Qualitative, Phenomenological, Transcendental Study Of University Institutional Official Relations With Stakeholders Using The Competing Values Framework, Sara Grano

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological, transcendental exploratory study was to understand institutional officials’ (IO) lived relational leadership experiences with internal and external stakeholders with competing values in U.S. research universities. The competing values framework guided the study to investigate IOs’ lived experiences when relating to diverse stakeholders in research universities. The central research question asked was what are the experiences of IOs in research universities when practicing relational leadership with diverse stakeholders with competing values? Ten participants were recruited for this qualitative study using the purposeful sampling and then snowball method of recruiting. The elite participants had experience serving …

Transitions Of Faith: Navigating Pastoral Changes In Small African American Churches, Joshua O. Dixon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of African American pastors aged 65 and older as they navigate leadership transitions within small churches in Florida. These churches, characterized by the absence of formal succession planning support from a parent organization, serve as critical pillars in their communities. Guided by Bridges' Transition Theory, this research investigated the emotional, psychological, and spiritual dimensions of pastoral transitions, focusing on the stages of 'Ending, Losing, and Letting Go,' 'Neutral Zone,' and 'New Beginning' (Bridges, 1980). Data collection methods included a pre-qualifying survey, individual interviews, and focus group discussions, analyzed through thematic analysis supported by …

The Church’S Response Post Grey Divorce: A Phenomenological Study Of Evangelical Men Experiencing Grey Divorce And The Implications For Faith And Post-Divorce Adjustment, Randall Rush

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In 1990 one out of every ten divorces involved an individual over the age of fifty. By 2010, that number had climbed to one out of every four divorces. As of 2019, one in three people getting divorced in the United States was aged fifty or older. Termed by researchers as “grey divorce,” this phenomenon is expected to grow as demographic shifts reveal an increasing older adult population with longer life expectancies. These later-life divorces have psychosocial and economic negative consequences on the individual. Divorcing later-life men and women share a number of these negative consequences, but there is gender-based …

Gen Mz Discipleship: Training A Generation To Live In The Postmodern Age, Christian E. Kolthoff

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The church exodus of Gen MZ is one of the most significant issues affecting the health of churches in the West. Recent research has indicated that many in Gen MZ have left the church not for lack of knowledge but because of a lack of understanding of the why. It has also indicated that Gen MZ has not been trained to respond to why they are holding on to the hope of the Gospel. So, when presented with opposing views, they struggle to maintain their faith in today’s postmodern society. It is an age in which a war on ideas …

Teachers' Experiences Implementing Reading Comprehension Strategies With Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Phenomenology Study, Melissa Katherine Mcdermott

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This hermeneutic phenomenological study described educators' experiences implementing reading comprehension strategies with elementary school students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in northern Delaware. The theory guiding this study was theory of mind, which addresses higher-order cognitive skills and impairments, evoking challenges for students with ASD regarding their reading comprehension skills. This study sought to answer the following research question: “What are teachers' experiences implementing instructional strategies to develop reading comprehension skills for students with ASD?” A hermeneutic phenomenological research design was used to investigate and understand the lived experiences of 12 educators in elementary schools who provide reading comprehension instruction …

The Lived Self-Care Experiences Of Parents Of Children With Severe Intellectual Disabilities: A Phenomenological Study, Karen Nadine May

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the lived self-care experiences of parents of children with severe intellectual disabilities (CWSID) who attend a special needs school accommodating children with various learning disabilities. Self-care is defined as a deliberate action to control problems that lead to an improved quality of life and good health. The theory guiding this study was the transactional model of stress and coping theory. The study's central research question was, “What are the lived self-care experiences of parents of children with severe intellectual disabilities (SID)?” The qualitative phenomenological design allowed the data to be …

Leadership Training And Development For The Purpose Of Biblical Literacy In The Christian Fellowship Church Membership, Bancroft Augustus Battick

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem at Christian Fellowship Church in Anguilla is the high rate of biblical illiteracy due to the lack of trained leaders to preach and teach the Word effectively. The purpose of this action research project is to train and develop five leaders to preach and teach the Word effectively. If leaders are trained and developed to preach and teach the Word effectively, the biblical literacy of the CFC membership will increase. The goal of this leadership training is to create a cadre of leaders who will be qualified to preach and teach the Word. During the action research, the …

Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Post-Graduates Of A Spiritual Direction Training Program Rooted In Ignatian Spirituality: A Phenomenological Study, Traci Arends

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand and explain the lived experiences of the graduates of the Spiritual Direction Training Program at the Ignatian Ways Center for Spirituality (IWCS). The theory guiding this study was Mezirow’s theory on transformative learning as it informs the transformative journey for the graduates. With this in mind, the central research question was, “What are the transformative learning experiences of graduates of the Spiritual Direction Training Program at the IWCS?” This qualitative design was appropriate because it considered the nature of the problem. The study utilized purposeful sampling of the lived experience …

Identity Restored: High School Students Overcoming Social Media’S Influence To Embrace Their Identity As Sons And Servants Of God, Daniel M. Christiaans

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The research question for this action research project relates to the impact of social media on the identity formation of believers through their high school years. As a youth pastor of 20 years and father of four teenagers, I’ve noticed that high school students maintain many of the social media habits and addictions seen in the secular world. This regular interaction with social media is detrimental to their identity formation; they are not adopting the identity provided for them in Christ as communicated by the Word of God. This project will discuss the roles and responsibilities of the believer's identity …

The Use Of Intellectual Humility As A Framework For Elementary School Teachers In The Development Of Positive Parent-Teacher Relationships, Ralinda Aspey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although the educational and psychological communities have identified the importance of the parent-teacher relationship to the academic success and social benefit of students, difficulties continue to persist in identifying specific strategies for building positive relationships between parents and teachers. This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of seven elementary school teachers in public schools to examine whether intellectual humility manifested in their reported ability to develop positive relationships with parents. A semi-structured interview with participants revealed seven overarching themes evident in their experiences with parents which align with the construct of intellectual humility. These themes include Proactive Communication, Openness to …

Technological Attitudes, Social Media Usage, And Work Ethics Among Educators, Roshani Kundaria

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examines the relationship between social media use, technological attitudes, and work ethics among K-12 educators in the United States. With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing many educators to transition to remote work and online teaching, individuals have more online presence and social interactions. Understanding how these interactions influence the values associated with work is essential. The decision to utilize a particular social media platform for personal use depends on educators’ individual needs, preferences, and circumstances. Positive and negative attitudes toward technology usage and dependence on technology were examined. The researcher found a negative correlation between technological attitudes and social …

The Relationship Between Education And Entrepreneurship Within African American Women’S History As Evidenced By Eight Exemplary Success Stories, Louise C. Mckinney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The educational and economic achievements of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other institutions of learning parallel the rise of black entrepreneurial history in the 1900s. They contributed to the historical context of the African American narrative through individual development, political and social changes, educational advancement, and national and regional changes in the concept of black wealth. These institutions provided a new platform for African Americans to rebuild their lives and futures in the post-Reconstruction era. This study analyzes the connection between African American educational leadership and entrepreneurship by assessing the impact of black female educators and leaders who …

Citizenship Christian Values Education Empowerment In Papua New Guinea Through Integration Of Curriculum, Funding, And Professional Training, Timothy Hawes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Since 2018, the Papua New Guinea Education Department has opened the door for Christian Citizenship Value Education, but previously, no organization has successfully addressed this opportunity. The problem is that the CCVE program in PNG does not integrate curriculum, funding, and professional training. The purpose of this DMIN action research project is to develop and deploy the CCVE Empowerment plan. Through a survey given to CCVE teachers and multiple focus groups with six different CCVE leaders, the CCVE Empowerment plan was developed. The plan included a new organizational structure, the prayer model, the self-teaching student journals, sufficient funding, and applied …

The ‘Monuments Men’ And Art In World War Ii, Sylvester M. Felder

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research focuses on the 'Monuments Men,’ a group of civilian and military personnel from amongst the Allied Nations in World War II who dedicated themselves to protecting, preserving, and reclaiming Europe's artistic and architectural marvels. The thesis statement is art was highly valued by both sides during the war and fell into their operational and tactical planning and that the 'Monuments Men' were crucial to rescuing looted art and helping to establish some of the finest art institutions of the Western world, aiding in art provenance research and restitution. The dominant research question is why was art sought after …