Digital Commons Network^™

Parents’ Experiences With Their Child’S Psychotherapy And Mental Illness, Valerie Marsman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low parental engagement—especially among fathers and ethnic minority groups like Latinx parents—in child psychotherapy increases the risk of treatment dropout, behavioral issues, and poorer outcomes, contributing to persistent disparities. More research was needed on perceptual barriers and facilitators to parental engagement such as attitudes, beliefs, and expectations. The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of parents’ experiences with their child’s psychotherapy and mental illness to facilitate parental engagement in services that support the child. An interpretative phenomenological approach and multiperspectival focus group design were used to illuminate each participant’s voice and explore overarching themes. Hill’s theory …

Systemist Graphics: Perspectives On Visualizing International Studies, Sarah Gansen, Yasemin Akbaba

Political Science Faculty Publications

This perspective article comments on the four articles within the Social Sciences Special Issue on ‘Systemism and International Studies’ within the broader scholarly and pedagogical context of the discipline. The special issue contributors successfully demonstrate applications of systemism across distinct fields, bringing expert perspectives to graphic design. We identified numerous contributions in theory building and refinement, active learning pedagogy, collaboration within and across disciplines, and partnership among policymakers and scholars. Limitations and obstacles, such as the lack of visual layering and the learning curve for systemist notation, are also noted. This commentary unfolds in four sections: an introduction providing an …

Mother And Baby Homes Commission Of Investigation Report: Alternative Executive Summary, Maebh Harding, Mairead Enright, Aoife O'Donoghue, Aoife Price, Cliona De Bhailís, Maria Ní Fhlatharta, Sahar Ahmed, Aisling Mcmahon, Aoife Daly, Ciara Fitzpatrick, Deirdre Macgowan, Fergus Ryan, Fiona Donson, Helen Kehoe, James Gallen, Kieran Walsh, Louise Kennefick, Lydia Bracken, Lynsey Black, Michelle Farrell, Phil Mullen, Samantha Morgan-Williams, Vicky Conway, Eilionoir Flynn, Shane Darcy

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

This document builds on the methodology developed by feminist judgments projects to rewrite the Executive Summary to the Final Report of Ireland’s Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation, published in January 2021. The Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation was established in February 2015 to investigate experiences in certain of Ireland’s residential institutions for single mothers and their young children between 1922 and 1998. In our rewritten Executive summary, twenty-five academics examined the evidence in the Commission’s original report, and offered a feminist, human rights-based analysis of the evidence presented there. Our document was first published open access …

Christian Identity And Commercialization: A Rhetorical Case Study Of Faith-Based Nil Branding In College Athletics, Santiago Diaz Finochietto

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

This project, “Christian Identity and Commercialization: A Rhetorical Case Study of Faith-Based NIL Branding in College Athletics," explores the intersection of faith, personal branding, and commercialization in the era of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) in collegiate athletics, with a specific focus on Christian student-athletes. Since the NCAA's 2021 policy change allowing athletes to profit from NIL, student-athletes have been thrust into a complex landscape of sponsorships, digital branding, and entrepreneurial identity. While this shift offers unprecedented opportunities, it also presents ethical and spiritual dilemmas, particularly for Christian athletes seeking to integrate their faith into their public and commercial presence …

An Explanation Of African American Males' Experiences And Decisions In The Pursuit Of Doctoral Degrees, Vincent L. Tucker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There was a limited understanding of the lived experiences of African American males who had completed their doctoral degrees, which could provide solutions to the barriers faced by those did not complete the doctoral program. Elements of critical race theory, Vroom’s expectancy theory, and Herzberg’s theory of motivation were combined into a single conceptual framework to understand the barriers experienced by African American men that prevented them from pursuing and completing doctoral programs. The data analysis process included a pre-coding exercise conducted after data collection to identify patterns or commonalities between the two sets of data. The results from this …

Black Men And Health Literacy: Strategies For Improvement In A Digital Age Through The Adaptation Of A Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, Evelina Weidman Sterling, Laura Stevens, Vanessa Robinson-Dooley, Tyler Collette

Faculty Articles

Health literacy is a critical determinant of health outcomes, yet it is often overlooked, particularly among marginalized groups. This paper explores the significance of health literacy, with a particular focus on low-income African American and Black (AA/B) men, a population that faces unique challenges due to intersecting factors such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, and educational disparities. We examine how these factors contribute to health literacy gaps, highlighting adverse effects on health outcomes for AA/B men compared to the general population. Additionally, we stress the growing importance of digital literacy in an increasingly technology-driven world. Not actively addressing digital health …

Trusted Professional Multi-Agency Transitions For Young People Facing Multiple Disadvantage – Learning From Co-Production By A Third Sector Partner In The Plymouth Alliance, Uk, Gemma Doyle, Sean Mitchell, Sue Hawley, Katy Krysiak, Felix Gradinger

Peninsula Medical School

Introduction: This case study provides practice-based reflections on challenges and potential solutions for young people with multiple disadvantages across housing, substance misuse, mental health, criminal justice, and domestic abuse systems, informed by 4 local principles: trauma informed, learning based, an alliance commissioning ethos, and workforce development.Description: To improve the current experiences of 17–25-year-olds in service transition iterative insights drew from networking staff across sectors, clinical audit and following live cases, and appreciative enquiries with young people. This was conducted by a practitioner researcher in a local Young Person’s charity and was supported by peer researchers with lived experience and embedded …

Kaysha Molizone, Kaysha Molizone '27, Nathalie Romero '25, Posse Legacy Project, Illinois Wesleyan University

All oral histories

Interview of Kaysha Molizone on July 21, 2025. Kaysha Molizone is a Posse 7 Scholar, who majored in Public Health and minored in Sociology.

When Culture Becomes Law: Mayan Heritage And The New Constitutional Recognition Of Collective Rights In Mexico, José Israel Herrera, Victor Manuel Colli Ek

Journal of Maya Heritage

Abstract. The constitutional reform of September 30, 2024 to article 2 marks a substantive change in the recognition of indigenous peoples as subjects of public law, with their own patrimony, valid normative systems and express right to conserve, protect and develop their cultural, material and immaterial heritage. This article analyzes the legal implications of this reform in the context of the Maya people, especially with regard to collective intellectual property, the right to prior consultation and the constitutional recognition of bioculturality. A critical reading of the new normative framework is proposed, with emphasis on its transformative potential for the territorial …

A User Experience Approach To Technical Editing Of Academic Library Digital Resources, Krista Sarraf, Danielle Daugherty, Morgan White, Madelyn Cruz

Library Scholarship

This paper reports on a teaching practice that integrates user experience and technical editing instruction to improve academic library digital content and support students' learning of technical editing as an exercise in user experience. Students, faculty, and academic librarians at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) worked to improve the accessibility and usability of their library's digital interfaces. The paper shares preliminary findings from a study of the teaching practice, exploring how a pedagogical framework for library and technical and professional communication partnerships can be designed, implemented, and evaluated to enhance student learning in technical editing and …

Varieties And Domains: A Syncretic Synthesis Of Law And Justice In India ( Including A Special Emphasis On Alternate Dispute Resolution), Amrith Bhargav B

Theses and Dissertations

From the abstract idea of Dharma that enabled the practice and sustenance of local custom and usage, law was defined without verbiage but in meanings and understandings. In the colonial age, law was constantly being defined and codified not just textually, but through projects of economies of politics, knowledge and power in a way that their transactional metrics produced social and cultural genres that changed India forever. In that state of play, lawyers and their associated players contributed to the emerging culture of power and dominance with their tool of making the law through cases and mainstreamed the colonial legal …

Understanding Socio-Environmental Concerns About Bear Lake: Findings From A Community-Engaged Teaching Study, Stacia Ryder, Alexander Theophilus, Charlotte Emelia Williams, Elizabeth Brunner, Jessica Ulrich-Schad, Mufti Nadimul Quamar Ahmed, Zubair Barkat, Nowrin Fatema, Jordan Rowley

Transforming Communities

In the western U.S., climate change is exacerbating already difficult situations in many lake systems, including Bear Lake, which spans the Idaho-Utah border and faces several environmental issues and a new wave of recreational development. In this research note, we discuss preliminary findings from community-engaged research aimed at assessing different concerns that scientists, residents, and community organizations have for Bear Lake and the surrounding communities. To do so, this project connects student research across three courses. Data collected through archival and interview research provides important insights into the socio-environmental concerns related to 1) ecological threats, 2) water management, quality, and …

Benefits And Impact Of Global And Bilingual Education: Dual Master’S Degree In Spanish Language And Culture For Educators, Diana Meza, Felix Wang, Yenisei Montes De Oca

International Journal on Responsibility

The dual master’s degree program in Spanish Language and Culture (SLC) for educators represents a pioneering initiative, emphasizing internationalization and global education through collaboration between James Madison University (JMU) and the University of Salamanca (USAL). This program addresses the escalating demand for bilingual education and the growing population of Spanish speakers in the educational landscape of the United States. The SLC program highlights educators’ responsibility to engage with and promote cultural and linguistic diversity by supporting bilingualism and cultural literacy in diverse communities where Spanish is widely used, particularly in regions where Spanish-speaking populations are marginalized. The program offers the …

From Embarrassment To Prejudice: Online “Cringe Culture” As An Affective And Social Phenomenon, Maxwell Seebold

Sociology Summer Fellows

When scrolling through the myriad content found online, you’re bound to find something that leaves you with negative emotions strong enough that you cringe. While this is largely an involuntary response, “cringe” becoming an adjective, and therefore a label, occurs due to the conscious othering of a user for the nature or presentation of their content. This project conceptualizes cringe as a multidimensional phenomenon rather than a singular emotion, which allows us to more easily make sense of how online cringe specifically has morphed into what is colloquially known as “cringe culture.” Through analysis of academic literature (from disciplines ranging …

Straddling The Boundary Of Misleading Information Group: Exploring The Association Between Network Brokerage And Morality Expressions, Yiqi Li, Marina Mitiaeva, Ximeng Deng, Una Joh, Yafei Zhang

iSchool - All Scholarship

Existing misleading information studies mostly focus on either the message content or social network structures, overlooking the association between the content and structural factors. This research examines the role of brokers, the key network actors straddling between misleading and true/regular information groups. Content-wise, morality expressions are examined, which signal social media users’ expressions toward what is right and wrong. This research provides insights into the understudied relationship between network brokerage and moral expressions and identifies connections between moral foundation and network brokerage theories. Findings suggest that binding morality (i.e., authority and loyalty) is dominant among network brokers. Practical strategies are …

A Cancer Education Needs Assessment: Informing Middle-Aged Female Patients About The Relationships Between Obesity And Women’S Health Concerns In The Reproductive System, Breast, And Endometrial Health, Batul Mirza

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Obesity significantly impacts women’s health, particularly among middle-aged women, by increasing the risk of hormone-sensitive cancers such as breast, endometrial, and reproductive system cancers. This study examines the educational needs of this demographic group regarding obesity-related cancer risks and explores effective intervention strategies. Obesity-induced mechanisms – hormonal imbalances, chronic inflammation, and insulin resistance – drive cancer susceptibility, emphasizing the need for targeted health education. The study employs a qualitative design, which includes interviews with subject matter experts (SMEs) and surveys of middle-aged women. The goal is to assess awareness, perceived barriers, and preferred learning methods. Findings suggest that with many …

The Physical Characteristics Linked To The Perception Of Criminality Of Female Offenders, Jennifer Anne Chapman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Gender disparities can be seen throughout the criminal justice system, where females are seen as weak and incapable of causing harm. This quantitative study sought to add to the existing research regarding physical characteristics linked to criminality. The labeling theory explains how physical characteristics labeled as deviant can alter a person’s perception when deciding whether an individual is violent. The research questions explored the physical characteristics linked to the perception of violent female offenders as well as the relationship between the gender of the participant and their ability to successfully identify a violent female offender. A mixture of statistical designs …

Beyond Translating Cultures: Organizational Cultural Brokering And Latin@/E/X Community Resilience After The "Mobile Home Parks" Fire, Christine Atalie Da Rosa

Dissertations and Theses

As wildfires increase in frequency and severity in rural communities, disaster management agencies are seeking to collaborate with community-based organizations (CBOs) working with rural, low-income Latin@/e/x communities to build wildfire resilience. This qualitative case study examines the critical role of CBOs rooted in their local, predominately low-income Latin@/e/x communities as cultural brokers in supporting Latin@/e/x wildfire survivors following the 2020 "Mobile Home Parks" Fire in a rural county in Oregon. Drawing from 23 semi-structured interviews, three focus groups, a review of relevant documents, and participant observations, the research investigates how Latin@/e/x CBOs navigated the complex cultural landscape between wildfire survivors …

2025, 1(20)

Journal of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour in Emerging Markets

Full Issue 2025, 1(20)

Breaking The Odds: A Gendered Analysis Of Women And Gambling Behaviors, Rowland Edet

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

Gambling is increasingly recognized as a complex public health issue with wide-ranging implications for individuals, families, and communities. While traditionally male-dominated, recent shifts reveal a growing participation among women, facilitated by gender-specific gambling products, targeted marketing, and evolving societal norms. This paper critically examines the prevalence, motivations, and harms associated with gambling among women, drawing on theoretical perspectives such as social capital theory, cultural geography, and gender role theory. By synthesizing existing literature, this review highlights distinct gendered patterns in gambling behaviors, including the use of gambling as a coping mechanism for stress, isolation, and caregiving burdens, and the role …

Critical Black Expressionism: A Womanist Manifesto, Rolanda Jw Spencer

Theses

This thesis introduces Critical Black Expressionism (CBE) as a visual, spiritual, and intellectual methodology rooted in Black feminist traditions, ancestral knowledge systems, and artistic practice. Grounded in womanist theory and decolonial inquiry, the central argument asserts that Black women’s lived experiences, cultural memory, and spiritual cosmologies constitute a rigorous and sovereign framework for artmaking. Rather than borrowing from Eurocentric pedagogies, this approach draws from oral traditions, sacred ritual, and master-apprentice models that have long existed within African and African American communities. The Iyami Aje: Mothers + Witches collection is the visual embodiment of this research. Composed of multimedia sculptures, altar-based …

¿Quién Es Responsable? (Who Is Responsible?): Different Framings About The Responsibility To Maintain Bilingualism In The United States, Heidy Sarabia, Diana Perez Valverde

International Journal on Responsibility

This study explores the perspectives of Chicanx/Latinx educational practitioners on the importance of maintaining bilingualism and the strategies employed by individuals and institutions to achieve this goal. Through oral histories, Chicanx/Latinx educational practitioners discussed the individual responsibility of preserving the Spanish language within families and the limitations of individualized strategies. They highlighted the need for institutional support through bilingual education programs, which foster linguistic diversity and cultural pride. Bilingual education programs were identified as key institutional spaces that foster cultural and linguistic pride, promote positive ethnic and racial identity development, and create a sense of belonging for students and their …

Reviews: Vagrancy In Birds (Lees, A., & Gilroy, J.); Audubon At Sea: The Coast And Transatlantic Adventures Of John Jame Audubon / With A Forward By Subhankar Bangerjee (Irmscher, C. & King, R.J.); New(Ish) And Noteworthy: Neptune’S Laboratory: Fantasy, Fear, And Science At Sea (Adler, A.); Down To Earth: Politics In The New Climatic Regime (Latour, B.); Birds And Us: A 12,000-Year History From Cave Art To Conservation (Birkhead, T.); Seabirds Of Southern Africa, Second Edition (Ryan, P.), Ginger A. Rebstock, Romaric Moncrieffe, Eric Wagner

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

When Ornithology Meets Ethnology And Archeology: The Birds Of The Bird-Cult At Rapa Nui (Easter Island) And Their Demise, Manuel Marín

Marine Ornithology

The disappearance of the bird species involved in the bird-cult of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) was examined. The cult was a contest in which the winner gathered the first seabird egg of the year from a near-shore islet, allowing the winner to become the Tangata Manu, or Birdman. This title provided a heightened status, bringing social and economic benefits and a way of being closer to their gods. Three seabird species were involved in the bird-cult: Great Frigatebird Fregata minor, Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus, and the Spectacled Tern Onychoprion lunatus, none of which currently breed in the area. Rock art …

Reviews: The Art Of The Bird: The History Of Ornithological Art Through Forty Artists (Lederer, R.J.); Vanishing Fish: Shifting Baselines And The Future Of Global Fisheries (Pauly, D.); Ta Life On Our Planet: My Witness Statement And A Vision For The Future (Attenborough, D.), Abby Mcbride, Michelle Paleczny, Phillip Taylor

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

A Study On Graduate Students Motivations To Conduct Psychological Evaluations For Asylum Seekers And The Asylum Project Program Evaluation, Anabel Castillo

ETD Collection

No abstract provided.

Introduction To Sociology: Research, Dr. Marcia Morrison Ph.D.

Open Educational Resources

Abstract:

This chapter explores the profound influence of sociology on understanding community dynamics and its crucial role in societal planning. It reviews how sociological research methods, ranging from qualitative interviews and ethnographic studies to quantitative data analysis, enable researchers to interpret social phenomena, predict trends, and inform policy decisions. Emphasizing the significance of data collection, analysis, and ethical considerations, the chapter highlights the importance of integrating multiple research methods, such as surveys, interviews, experiments, ethnography, and historical analysis, to capture the complexity of human behavior. Through a case study investigating poverty among Black individuals in the United States, the narrative …

Preventing The Police From Using Private Information Obtained Through An Unlawful Search – An Australian Perspective, Sirko Harder

Louisiana Law Review

No abstract provided.

A Study On Litigation Strategies Of Environmental Ngos In China’S Centralized Governance Society: Taking Biodiversity Litigation As An Example, Huiyu Zhao, Yizhen Xu

Maryland Journal of International Law

No abstract provided.

Loving Legalists? How Adventists Simultaneously Embrace God’S Love And Adhere To Legalistic Beliefs, Petr Činčala, Duane C. Mcbride, René D. Drumm

Andrews University Seminary Studies (AUSS)

Based on analysis of the data from the 2017–2018 Global Church Member Survey (GCMS), this article investigates the unique combination of legalistic and loving beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors of Seventh-day Adventists. It shows how widespread and culturally variant their beliefs are in relation to legalism while they generally believe in and serve a God with loving characteristics. This article highlights the degree to which cultural influences correlate with legalistic beliefs and how legalistic beliefs relate to the experience of negative emotions and a lack of self-worth/unhappiness.