Digital Commons Network^™

Book Review Of, Participatory Engineering Of Algorithmic Socialtechnologies: An Extended Book Review Of David G. Robinson's Voices Inthe Code, Rajesh Venkatachalapathy

Complex Systems Faculty Publications and Presentations

David G. Robinson’s Voices in the Code, reviewed here, approaches the issue of governance and regulation of algorithmic social technologies with a case study orientation that offers a grounding in the details, illuminating the fundamentally sociological and processual nature of modern governance issues that are mostly missed or left implicit in academic, regulatory, and legislative discussions. This important book urges us to design adaptive, malleable, and evolvable participatory organizational structures instead. Accepting the author’s invitation to carry the torch forward, this review builds on and extends the book’s arguments by presenting broad and transferable insights on regulation and governance …

"This Revolution Been Televised": Media As A Tool Of Justice And An Apparatus Of State Violence, Nahal Rastegarpour

Dissertations and Theses

This study utilizes case information from an online database called Fatal Encounters, which has over 30,000 incident reports of civilian deaths involving a police officer. From this larger population, a sample of 415 cases is used to run an additional mixed method research design, which integrates quantitative data analysis and qualitative content analyses. The quantitative analysis sample includes all 415 cases, and the qualitative content analysis uses a subsample of 34 cases. Using demographic data provided by Fatal Encounters, this study expands case information to create new data sets. Both quantitative and qualitative data are collected, developed, and then analyzed. …

The Chinese American Experience, Katherine Chan Sorensen

2025 Symposium

This paper examines and identifies conflicts of second-generation Chinese Americans, focusing on the interplay of cultural values, gender roles, and societal stereotypes. Through an interview with Connor Chan, a 23-year-old Chinese American, the study illuminates the tension between traditional Chinese patriarchy and evolving American norms. Intergenerational conflicts arising from differing acculturation experiences are explored, highlighting the emotional strain of navigating two distinct cultural landscapes.

The research addresses the persistence of traditional gender roles, where male breadwinners are emphasized, contrasting with Americas idea of female empowerment. This dissonance creates internal and external pressures for second-generation individuals. Furthermore, the paper confronts the …

Front Matter, Volume 26, Issue 1, Institute On African Affairs

Journal of African Policy Studies

No abstract provided.

Front Matter, Volume 25, Number 1, Institute On African Policy Studies

Journal of African Policy Studies

No abstract provided.

The Communication And Public Speaking Course And Biblical Foundations – Interpersonal Encounters With The Creator, Victoria Joiner Edd

The Journal of Biblical Foundations of Faith and Learning

Teaching COMM 135 Communication and Public Speaking from a biblical worldview is critical to the Southern University student body. This paper discusses various strategies to provide a biblical foundation in the course that has secular humanistic thought and philosophies at its core. This worldview is a seamless, often unconscious stream of biblical inclusion throughout the semester. Successfully integrating the basic biblical foundation principle of God’s interpersonal communication with humanity within Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) for the course is not only possible but essential within the biblical foundation paradigm. Wood’s (2016) eight axioms/principles of Interpersonal Communication provide a foundation upon which …

Labor Of Love, Or Profit? How The Parental Rights Argument Threatens To Upend Child Labor Regulation In America, Stephanie A. Smith Charney

Tulsa Law Review

No abstract provided.

Lgbtq Wedding Party: Conscientous Objections To The Enforcement Of Anti-Discrimination Law, Ioanna Tourkochoriti

Tulsa Law Review

No abstract provided.

Illinois State University Salaries Fy2025 Update, Illinois State University

Illinois State University Salaries

Includes two sections: administrative professional and civil service salaries, and non-tenure track, tenure track, and faculty associate salaries.

Utah People And Environment Poll 2024/25 Descriptive Report, Jessica Schad, Sydney Fisk, Zubair Barkat

Utah People and Environment Poll (UPEP)

In spring of 2023, faculty and graduate students at Utah State University (USU) started the Utah People and Environment Poll, or UPEP, to survey adult Utah residents about their perceptions on environmental issues of importance to the state. From November 2024 to January 2025 the second iteration of the survey was conducted. While some questions remained the same, others were added to account for new interests of the team and emergent environmental issues of interest.

The Effects Of Family Cohesion On The Relationship Between Trauma And State-Level Social Policy Provision In The United States, Brandon Kendall Ross Fielding

Dissertations and Theses

This dissertation examines how childhood trauma and family cohesion interact to shape state-level social policy generosity in the United States. The study begins with a multilevel quantitative analysis using data from the National Survey of Children’s Health and the State Safety-Net Generosity Index to assess how individual-level experiences of trauma and family support relate to state-level welfare generosity. Two trauma indices--one focused on adverse childhood experiences and bullying, and the other on food-related hardship--are used to explore how trauma influences attitudes toward public assistance, and whether family cohesion moderates this relationship. Results from marginal effects analyses indicate that family cohesion, …

Burnout, Life Satisfaction, And Meaning-Focused Coping In Correctional Mental Health Providers, Danielle Janet Tsamouris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Studies have found that burnout among correctional mental health providers is related to unique stressors that impact their physical, psychological, and emotional health, including the perceived and actual threat of violence. Using the transactional theory of stress and coping, the purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the influence of burnout and meaning-focused coping strategies on life satisfaction in correctional mental health providers. Online survey data from 102 master’s-holding correctional mental health professionals were recruited by SurveyMonkey who also administered the survey. Results from a standard multiple regression analysis suggested that meaning-focused coping strategies significantly and positively influenced life …

The Impact Of Functional Disabilities On The Quality Of Life Of Older U.S. Adults, Bernadette Lavender

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Among older U.S. adults, functional disabilities are critical determinants of quality of life (QoL), influencing mobility, social engagement, and independence. Despite growing evidence of these impacts, limited research examines how healthcare access, social support, and socioeconomic factors moderate this relationship. This quantitative study explored the effects of functional disabilities on QoL, operationalized through self-reported health, while examining the moderating roles of key social determinants. Using a cross-sectional design, secondary data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) were analyzed. The sample included 42,405 participants aged 60 years and above from all 50 states. Multiple regression analyses and ANOVA were employed …

Creating Space For Climate Justice In Library And Information Science, Tami Oliphant, Tyler Youngman, Dan Hackborn, Lisa Nathan, Beth Patin

The Lender Center for Social Justice

This article explores the role of LIS in promoting climate justice, advocating for inclusive and sustainable information practices that address environmental inequities.

Knowledge And Punishment: The Prison-Industrial Complex And Epistemic Oppression, Lark Mulligan

The Scholar: St. Mary's Law Review on Race and Social Justice

No abstract provided.

Using Mini-Datasets To Build Quantitative Research Skills, Julio Montanez

Teaching Online Pedagogical Repository

This resource provides a gentle introduction to undergraduate students on the intricacies of creating quantitative datasets.

Planetary Health And Indigenous Sovereignty: Exploring The Theory Of Change Of The Healthy Environments And Lives (Heal) Network In Western Australia, Lucie O'Sullivan, Theoni Whyman, Mara West, Noel Nannup, Jaime Yallup Farrant, Naomi Joy Godden, Emma Leigh Synnott, Raewyn Mutch, Anita J. Campbell, Kylie Wrigley, Brad Farrant

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper outlines the theory of change which underpins the Western Australian (WA) hub of the Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) network. HEAL is an Australian national research initiative that aims to address the health impacts of climate and environmental change. The WA hub's theory of change is focused on improving the health and well-being of the planet and people, including children, through centring Indigenous sovereignty, voices and ways of knowing and being in research, policy development and service provision. The WA hub also recognises it is essential for place-based, community-led solutions, which strengthens responses to climate and environmental change, …

Wild Women, Wild West: Queer Women’S Sexuality And Gender Presentations On The Western Frontier, Michaela White

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Political Polarization And Voter Turnout: A New Political Paradigm?, Kyle Thaller

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

Political polarization has characterized most recent U.S. elections through further widening the gap between the two parties to the point that many people fear a second U.S. Civil war is approaching. This begs the larger question of how polarization impacts the electorate? Does it turn voters off or push them to vote? Does it have a negative impact on American elections, or is it merely a next step in the grand experiment we define as American democracy? This paper uses Logistic regression (via SPSS Statistics) with data from American National Election Studies (ANES) to address these questions by analyzing the …

In The Shadow Of Sovereignty: A Dark Examination Of Hobbes, Sovereign Power, And Genocide, Sidney Dombrovskis

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

This thesis explores the genocides in Rwanda and Cambodia through the framework of Thomas Hobbes’s political philosophy, focusing on his concepts of the state of nature and absolute sovereignty as articulated in Leviathan. The hypothesis asserts that Hobbes’s state of nature is not merely a hypothetical construct but a tangible reality that can be observed in the actions and failures of authoritarian regimes, such as those of the Hutu government in Rwanda and the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. These governments, both authoritarian and endowed with seemingly absolute power, paradoxically failed to embody the Leviathan that Hobbes envisioned as the ultimate …

Seeing Through The Incense Smoke: Understanding The Meanings Of Ancestral Rites In Vietnam For The Sake Of A Pastoral Approach In Christian Mission, J.P. Cima

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

Cima, J.P. “Seeing Through the Incense Smoke: Understanding the Meanings of Ancestral Rites in Vietnam for the Sake of a Pastoral Approach in Christian Mission.” Ph.D. diss., Concordia Seminary, 2025. 285 pp.

The veneration of ancestors at family altars has long been a defining feature of everyday Vietnamese life that poses a critical missiological problem for Christian mission in Vietnam. May Christians participate in ancestral veneration rituals? Current and historical responses to this question, among Protestants and Catholics alike, have not been uniform. Moreover, many responses have been based on assumed or oversimplified understandings of the rites’ meaning which recent …

Exploring The Experience Of Embodiment Of Diverse Leaders, Susan Lynn Flaming Yeats

Dissertations

The experience of embodiment is a complex phenomenon that spans a range of feelings: a sense of connection to one's physical body, a sense of capability to accomplish certain physical acts, an attunement to self-care behaviors, a connection to desire, and inhabiting the body as a subjective site (Piran, 2016). This can be a complicated experience for leaders who hold multiple intersecting identities (Hill et al., 2016). As new medical therapies promise radical weight loss possibilities, the experience of embodiment has taken on a new layer of complexity (Giorgis, 2024). For fat leaders who are also women of color, sexual …

Leading Through Crisis: San Diego County Schools' Response To The Social Emotional Needs Of All Students, Johana Bielma

Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic led to unprecedented school closures, forcing administrators to take decisive action to radically change the educational system. The imperative to switch to remote learning transformed the dynamics of teaching and learning, leading to both immediate and long-term academic and social emotional consequences for all stakeholders. When schools reopened, administrators faced the challenge of reintegrating students into in-person learning while addressing the pandemic’s lasting effects on academics, mental health, and school safety. While academic regression was evident, the extent of students’ emotional struggles was less anticipated. Many students exhibited increased irritability and mental health issues such as depression …

Engagement In Responsible Conduct Of Research: A Descriptive Case Study Of The Factors Of Organizational Culture And Implementation Drivers That Influence Research Integrity Practice, Cortni Beth Romaine

Doctor of Philosophy in Translational Health Sciences Dissertations

This qualitative descriptive case study investigates the relationship between organizational culture and the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) across multiple research institutions. Utilizing elements of the Cultural Dynamics Model and the Implementation Drivers Framework, the study examines how institutional structures and cultural norms shape research integrity practices. Data collection involved in-depth interviews with faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students, as well as an artifact review of institutional policies, training resources, and guidance for research best practices.

Findings revealed three key themes: (1) Microculture Experiences, where RCR engagement is largely dictated by localized lab cultures, with principal investigators (PIs) playing a …

The Case Against Police Militarization: Stop Turning Police Into Soldiers, Kenia A. Silva Garcia

Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science

This paper will critically explore police militarization in the United States, highlighting its origins, implications, and the urgent need to demilitarize them. The rise of militarized police forces began in the 1960s—the War on Drugs and federal programs that allowed military equipment to be transferred to local police departments made their expansion even more possible. Due to this expansion, this paper discusses that police should not be militarized because it increases violence, disproportionately affects marginalized communities, particularly racial minorities, and ultimately fails to reduce crime. Evidence suggests that militarized police forces foster systemic inequalities that are rooted in historical racism—a …

How Mass Incarceration Has Destroyed African American Communities, Angeliki Karvounis

Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science

Beginning with the “Tough on Crime” movement of the 1970s, policies such as mandatory minimums, the War on Drugs, and the Three Strikes law have reinforced racial disparities in the criminal justice system. Multiple historical and systemic factors have contributed to the disproportionate imprisonment of African American individuals. This paper explores the long-term consequences of incarceration, including the erosion of family structures, the economic marginalization of affected communities, and the perpetuation of poverty and crime. The repercussions of parental incarceration on children and the challenges faced by formerly incarcerated individuals seeking reintegration into society are examples of the long-term consequences …

The Role Of Criminology In The Courtroom, Nia Mehroke

Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science

Criminology and expert witness testimony play a crucial role in modern-day court proceedings. Scientific data and insights utilized in criminology can assist with seeking justice and fairness. This essay aims to provide a basis for the history of criminology and define the practice. It will explore the evolution of criminology practices and how theories have developed that are still utilized today. Furthermore, it will discuss criminologists’ many contributions as expert witnesses, including the role of ethics that criminologists must follow in court. Some key ideas presented include the methodologies criminologists use to present evidence and what standard criminologists must follow …

Parallel Paths:, Jacob Jones

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Discovering The Roots Of Terror: Understanding The Relationship Between Terrorism And Corruption, Mckenna Dahm

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

This research investigated the relationship between terrorism and the factors of corruption, democracy, and human development by using a regression analysis with data collected from Vision of Humanity’s Global Terrorism Index (GTI), Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI), and the Freedom House’s Global Freedom Scores. Based on previous research and other literature, it was hypothesized that corruption is a significant cause of terrorism. Using data from 2018 to 2022, 158 countries were included in the analysis. Expanding on the research, four case studies (Somalia, Israel, Liberia, and Georgia) were chosen to evaluate the …

Transnational Methodological Engagements With Artistic Narratives: Challenging Hierarchies And Building Community, Lauren Stetz

The Qualitative Report

Through the analysis Violence Against Women Art Map Project, a publicly accessible online platform that utilizes data visualization to understand the contextual complexities of violence against women (VAW), this article explores how comics and narrative artworks can be utilized to provide voice on sensitive or controversial subject matter, challenge accepted societal hierarchies and norms and build community. Considering social media as a transnational dialogic space, graphic works within online spaces can provide qualitative researchers with the potential to expose the multilayered and entangled experiences of individuals across cultures and to interrupt frequently silenced issues that often go unwitnessed and unspoken. …