Digital Commons Network^™

Examining Spirituality/Religiousness As A Protective Factor For The School-To-Prison Pipeline, Selena M. Balderas

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: The school to prison pipeline (STPP) is a systemic issue that reflects the intersection of educational inequities and punitive practices disproportionately affecting society’s youth in underserved communities. The STPP funnels students out of educational environments and into the criminal justice system through the overuse of punitive practices such as suspension, expulsion, and school-based arrests. This especially affects students of color, LGBTQ youth and those with disabilities and perpetuates cycles of injustice, poverty, marginalization, and incarceration. The social control theory provides a useful framework in understanding the relationship between deviant behavior and social bonds (Stewart & Rapp, 2017). When individuals …

"Voces De Inspiración: Testimonios Of Mexican-American/Chicano/-Latino/A Educators Across The Pk20+ Higher Pipeline Pursuing Higher Education From San Bernardino". (A Qualitative Study), Juan C. Luna

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to explore the motivational and inspirational factors that contribute to the academic success of Mexican-American / Chicano/a-Latino/a in K-12 students, particularly those who are mentored and guided by educators within the PK20+ educational pipeline in San Bernardino. By documenting and analyzing the lived experiences and testimonios of these students, this research aims to serve as a source of inspiration for others facing similar challenges in their pursuit of a four-year degree.

As a Mexican-American researcher, my shared cultural background may establish a foundation of trust and rapport with participants, facilitating the collection of …

Examining The Relationship Between Social Capital And College Enrollment Among Latina Adult Learners: A Mixed-Methods Study, Josefina Balbuena

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Despite their potential, Latinas are often underrepresented in higher education, facing unique challenges and barriers. Objective: The study will investigate the role of social capital in the college enrollment decision of Latina adult learners. Methods: A convergent mixed-method approach will be used to examine how social networks and access to resources impact their choice to pursue higher education. To determine how social capital links to the possibility of enrolling in college, this study proposal will combine quantitative data from the Bridging Social Capital Questionnaire (BSCQ) with qualitative information from in-depth interviews. The interviews can highlight other elements that could …

Safety, Access To Resources, And Inclusion: A Mixed-Methods Study Of The Lgbtqia+ Community In The Inland Empire, Jessica Mary Fanene, Leonardo Serrano Jr.

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

LGBTQIA+ individuals face growing discrimination, exclusion, and systemic inequities that threaten well-being. Rising anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric exacerbates these challenges, contributing to anxiety, depression, and heightened suicide risks. This study explores LGBTQIA+ individuals’ sense of well-being by analyzing how external factors impact safety and inclusion. Using an exploratory, mixed-methods approach, this study surveyed members of the LGBTQIA+ community in the Inland Empire to determine perceptions on well-being (n = 219). Based on descriptive statistics, about one third of participants reported a below average to average sense of safety (35.6%), access to resources (32.0%), and inclusion (33.8%). Meanwhile, thematic analysis revealed that the …

The Sense-Making Of Race, Gender, And Masculinity In College Men Of Color: A Critical Race-Grounded Theory Approach, Leon Phú Strayer

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Literature on Men of Color in college has highlighted the disparate retention, persistence, and graduation rates of college Men of Color when compared to their female counterparts or White male peers. As a contribution to the scholarly research on Men of Color, this qualitative critical race-grounded theory study explored this phenomenon and made further inquiry about the nuanced and unique lives of Men of Color attending a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI). This research involved nine Men of Color undergraduate students who attended an HSI in Southern California who collaborated and coconstructed knowledge during the study. The collaborators, or participants, contributed to …

Challenges The Sporting Industry Faced During Covid-19 On Fan Attendance: The Case Of The National Basketball Association, Marlon Long

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This culminating experience project investigates the challenges the sporting industry faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focused look at the National Basketball Association. The research questions are: (Q1) How did the NBA arena shutdowns impact fan attendance for each team during the COVID-19 pandemic? (Q2) What factors influenced NBA arena attendance before the COVID-19 shutdowns? (Q3) What factors influenced NBA arena attendance after the COVID-19 shutdown? The data collected includes all 30 NBA teams from 2019 through the 2024 seasons. The research questions were analyzed using multilinear regression analysis and comparison of attendance data over 6 seasons including the …

Does Gender Spell Success? Exploring Female Student Perspectives Of Faculty At A Higher Educational Institution, Chitora Jackson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative interpretative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of female students at a higher educational institution and to understand how those experiences shape their perspectives of female and male faculty. Additionally, this study sought to discover how faculty gender influences their interactions with students and the similarities and differences between interactions and the potential for student success as they define it.

The overall goal was to better understand how female students experience faculty interactions and help to promote more positive outcomes for students through the supportive efforts of those who teach them. Data were …

Finding An Effective Measure Of Religiosity And Substance Use Levels For The Deaf: An Attempted Pilot Study, Angela Masiello

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Deaf often lack access to health-promoting services (Meador & Zazove, 2005), though they have an increased risk of developing substance use disorders (Hommes et al., 2018). Communication has been a prominent barrier to the accessibility of healthcare services and participation in research for the Deaf (McKee et al., 2012). Literature has shown multiple methodological challenges when conducting research with the Deaf (Napier et al., 2018). This pilot study used Jones et al.’s (2001) cross-cultural translation model to translate two measures into American Sign Language (ASL). Six bilingual experts in ASL and English translated the RSAS-5 and the TAPS into …

Beyond Stereotypes: Exploring The Intersection Of Feminist Identity And Societal Expectations In Ama Ata Aidoo’S Changes: A Love Story (1991), Grace Adutwum

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Changes: A Love Story by Ama Ata Aidoo explores the intersection of feminist identity and societal expectations of African women, specifically Ghanaian women. This work examines how Esi and other characters struggle for love, autonomy, and independence, and reveals how tradition often limits African women’s choices and agency. This research also highlights how Aidoo presents a distinct, context-specific approach to gender roles and pressure from society, rather than viewing feminism as a strict opposition to patriarchy. By using African feminism as a theoretical framework, this work analyzes how marriage, career, and independence shape Esi’s identity. The depiction of polygamy, independence, …

Interobserver Agreement Of Human Osteological Analysis On The Szeged, Hungary Skeletal Collection, Alleyia Bailey

All Theses

Biological anthropologists develop human skeletal biological profiles to identify skeletal remains and build demographic knowledge of past and modern peoples. Biological anthropologists estimate age-at-death, sex, stature, ancestry, and the presence of injury or pathology to develop biological profiles. While biological profiles are at the basis of the work anthropologists perform, there is a lack of research concerning the reproducibility and interobserver agreement rates of the methods used to create biological profiles. Due to the risk of variability stemming from the education, training, and experience of observers, along with variation that can arise from population affinity, examining the interobserver agreement rates …

A Comparative Analysis Of Cultural Preservation Focused Land-Use Regulations Within The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Of South Carolina, Nolly C. Swan

All Theses

This thesis is an analysis of three land-use regulations: conservation easements and fee simple ownership by conservation land trust, an area specific zoning overlay, and a town-wide ordinance, all aimed at protecting cultural heritage on different islands within the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor (GGCHC) of South Carolina: Edisto Island, St. Helena Island, and Hilton Head Island. The lower sea islands of South Carolina have a unique natural and cultural landscape under threat of loss, both tangible and intangible heritage is vulnerable. This study provides an individual and comparative analysis of goals for land-use regulations. The purpose statements of the …

Quantifying The Transformation Of The Built Environment As A Result Of Cooper River Bridge Construction In Charleston, South Carolina, Catherine Claire Jackson

All Theses

The demolition of historically undervalued vernacular architecture for the construction of transportation projects has created a large-scale, cumulative loss of architectural heritage nationwide. This thesis quantifies the architectural loss caused by the construction of the series of Cooper River bridges in peninsular Charleston and Mount Pleasant. This study assesses the transformation of the built environment as a result of each bridge’s construction by determining the quantity of architectural loss, identifying forms and materials of architectural loss, and differentiating the effects of bridge construction on the more rural Mount Pleasant side compared to the urban peninsular Charleston side. Also assessed in …

A Qualitative Analysis Of Graffiti Inscriptions At Ecclesiastical Sites In The South Carolina Lowcountry, Hannah Truman

All Theses

The study of graffiti has become a multi-disciplinary study. Historical and modern forms of graffiti offer a unique perspective on the connection people have with religious sites over the span of three hundred years. Within South Carolina, the establishment of twenty-five churches throughout the Lowcountry from 1706 to 1775 offers an understanding of people’s connection to spaces from the beginning of South Carolina’s establishment to the present day. Their beliefs are reflected throughout the space of the building as congregations have left their imprint.

In order to understand the relationship of people to the site over time, various methods were …

“Raise Your Keffiyeh:” Headdress As A Lens For Understanding The Arab Revolt In Mandatory Palestine, 1936-1939, Kathryn Kf Butler

All Theses

In the fall of 1938, approaching the apex of the most intensive period of violence during the Arab Revolt against the British government in Mandatory Palestine (1936-1939), a seemingly unassuming change occurred for Arab men in cities throughout the region: they donned a new headdress. Sartorial shifts in the early post-Ottoman period were not unique to Palestine. During the Interwar period, changes in male headgear occurred throughout the greater Middle East in Turkey, Afghanistan, Iran, Syria and Iraq, to name a few. These transformations of dress signaled a shift in something either societal or political and oftentimes both. I argue …

Environmental Influences Of Zero-Sum Thinking And Its Outcome, Edison Sora Tan

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Zero-sum thinking refers to a generalized mentality or a belief that one person’s gain can only come at the expense of another person’s loss. In this research, I argue that people’s zero-sum thinking is, at least in part, influenced by the interacting characteristics of the environment, namely, resource scarcity and population density. This is because resource scarcity highlights people’s resource insecurity, particularly when population density accentuates potential competition for finite resources. Consequently, zero-sum thinking reduces trust and cooperation as people reduce their commitment to potentially risky social investments. Analysis with data from a large-scale field study and ecological data provided …

More Than Meets The Eye: Misaligned Expectations In Social Interactions For Individuals With Chronic Illness, Janice Patricia

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Despite the importance of social relationships for well-being, individuals with chronic illness often face barriers that deter them from initiating meaningful connections, such as perceived stigma, fear of rejection, or strained relationships upon a disclosure of their illness. These challenges reveal two key misalignments: overestimated negative (or underestimated positive) expectations of social interactions held by individuals with chronic illness, as well as perceptions held by potential acquaintances. The present study examined how these misalignments hinder social interactions and relationship initiation. Study 1 involved individuals with chronic illness and revealed that participants overestimated the likelihood of awkwardness, disrespect, and rejection, while …

What Makes An Experience Meaningful: A Process/Outcome Approach, Clement Yong Hao Lau

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Scant research has investigated how meaning judgement of an experience are derived; even fewer has examined how these judgements shift over time. To address these gaps, the present research introduced Process/Outcome Meaning Model (POMM)—which proposes that meaning can be derived from two distinct aspects of an experience: its process (i.e., the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that unfold during the experience) and its outcome (i.e., the results or consequences that follow). POMM further suggests that changes in perceived outcomes may lead to corresponding shifts in meaning judgements over time. Across three studies, participants wrote about and reflected on their personal (positive …

Doin' Time: Entertainment And Exploitation At Decommissioned Prison Museums In The United States, Jessi Robbins

Master's Theses

This thesis aims to explore how decommissioned prison museums in the US, such as Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary (BMSP), shape societal attitudes and understanding of the carceral system as a whole and the presence of systemic racism within by addressing three questions: (1) What histories do prison museums tell, and which are erased?, (2) How do objects displayed in prison museums reflect past and present racial attitudes toward the incarcerated?, and (3) Does visiting or working at a prison museum affect individual attitudes regarding the US carceral system? Grounded in James Scott’s (1992) concept of “hidden transcripts” and Michel Foucault’s …

A Worker-Centered Study Exploring Trust, Dependency, And Worker Identity In Digital Platform-Mediated Labor, Wael Altali

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Digital gig platforms have transformed labor markets globally. This dissertation critically examines the intersections of platform design and worker experiences through four interrelated studies. The research identifies how differences between on-demand and cloud work platforms shape identity, trust, and autonomy.

Drawing on Cultural Domain Analysis, the first study proposes a practical classification system for digital gig platforms. Experts categorize platforms as on-demand or cloud work, avoiding theoretical subtypes like skill level. This framework supports targeted analyses of platform design and regulatory implications.

The second and third studies examine the paradoxes of worker identity in platform-mediated environments. A survey of 268 …

Does Resilience Moderate The Relation Between Caregiver Behaviors And Post-Traumatic Symptoms In Young Adults?, Akila Uma Gopalkrishnan

Master's Theses

Exposure to a potentially traumatic event (PTE) is not an uncommon experience for children and adolescents. After exposure to adverse events, youth may experience significant maladjustment and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). As such, researchers continue investigating potential risk and protective factors contributing to youth post-trauma adjustment. Considering their critical role in children’s development, caregivers likely play a key role in youth post-trauma adjustment. However, the field lacks studies on caregiver behaviors following youth PTE exposure and on factors, such as resilience, that could influence how children respond to stress and caregiver environments. I aimed to evaluate: (a) how perceived caregiver …

The Missing Void: Lack Of Pockets In Womenswear And Its Effect On Daily Life, Clare Bolon

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Pockets give power to people who possess them. Yet, an estimated half of the U.S. population —women— frequently wear garments lacking useful pockets. Why? Womenswear is molded by beauty standards. This study brings an anthropological perspective on gender inequality in the U.S. by examining modern clothing and the differences in pocket access by gender. 127 participants were recruited for a mixed methods survey, most from a medium-sized university in the Mountain West region. Survey questions explored the attitudes and experiences of people who wear women’s clothing regarding pockets (or the lack thereof) and its impact on their daily lives. Open-ended …

What We Talk About When We Talk About First-Generation Students: Exploring Definitions In Use On College And University Websites, Danielle E. Maurici-Pollock, Rebecca Stallworth, Sasha Khan

Publications

First-generation students (FGS) are a population that has received increasing attention, but the term has been inconsistently defined. Such inconsistency creates challenges not only for research, but for students themselves, many of whom may find they meet the FGS definition in one institutional context, but not another. In this study, we analyze how the term first-generation student is defined on the public websites of colleges and universities in the United States and Canada and discuss implications for students and academic libraries.

Measuring Motive: A Systematic Review Of The Cyber Aggression Typology Questionnaire, Alexandre N. Urben

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Cyber aggression is a widespread social problem with serious psychological impacts on both perpetrators and victims. Eighty-five percent of Americans say they use the Internet daily, and thirty-one percent of Americans report they go online “almost constantly”. Forty-one percent of Americans say they have experienced some form of online harassment. While there is a great deal of research across various disciplines about the frequency of cyber aggression, who perpetrates it, and what traits are associated with it, motivations for cyber aggression are less understood. Understanding the motivations involved is an important factor in preempting and countering cyber aggression. The Cyber …

Exploring Factors That Contribute To Poverty Among Singleparent Households Headed By Latinas: A Qualitative Study, Jeffrey M. Balencia

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Despite the new strategies and programs being developed and implemented, poverty still finds itself at a continuous increase yearly (Banovcinova et al., 2014). Families have been found to be the most susceptible group compared to everyone else due to the many factors they face that can affect them. By using the information provided by other articles, gaps identified is there are lack of studies on the factors that contribute to poverty among singleparent households headed by Latinas. Objective: This exploratory study aims to identify contributing factors to poverty among single-parent households headed by Latinas. Method: Qualitative data will be …

Impact Of Crime On Interstate Transport Operations In Northcentral Nigeria, Muhammed Etudaiye Ohida

Journal of Terrorism Studies

The study investigated the impact of crime on interstate road transport operations in north-central Nigeria. The study relies on descriptive statistics to describe the features of the populations. 200 questionnaires were purposefully administered to the four major interstate motor parks in the capital of some north-central states (i.e., Minna, Lokoja, Benue, and Lafia) using random sampling techniques. The gathered data was analysed using percentages and charts, while the T-test statistics were used to test the study hypothesis. The result shows that there is a statistically significant influence of crimes on interstate transport operations in north-central Nigeria. The study concluded that …

Light & Faith: May 2025, Taylor University

Light & Faith

No abstract provided.

Study Of The Correlation Between The Behavior Of Work Teams And Knowledge Management In The Offices Dependent On The Academic Vice-Rectorate Of The National Agrarian University Of La Selva: Based On Plithogenic Statistics, Lucila Maribel Justiniano-Advincula, Monica Gisela Justiniano-Advincula, Ketty Marilú Moscoso-Paucarchuco, Inocente Feliciano Salazar-Rojas, Carlos Walter Mayta-Molina, Zaida Elizabeth Caycho-Gutierrez, Manuel Michael Beraún-Espíritu

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

No abstract provided.

The Conversation Continues: The Judiciary’S Evolving Role In Perpetuating Racial Disparities In Addiction Treatment, Sydney Crute

Fordham Law Review

Language is a powerful means of social control, an idea that resonates deeply with court rhetoric as it relates to race. This Note examines the language courts use when discussing cases related to drug use and addiction. During the crack epidemic, when Black individuals represented the race of the primary drug user and drug dealer, courts relied on racially coded language related to crime and fear. Alternatively, during the opioid epidemic, when White individuals represented the race of the primary drug user, courts relied on more neutral language related to the health and well-being of society. Finally, the language courts …

Exploring The Relationship Between Intrinsic Capacity And Social Participation In Healthy Ageing: Evidence From Singapore, Li Ling Cheong, William Tov, Robin Wai Munn Choo, Micah Tan, Lay Khoon Lau, Wee Shiong Lim, Yew Yoong Ding, Paulin Tay Straughan

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Objective: The World Health Organization has identified intrinsic capacity and functional ability as key constructs in enabling healthy ageing. However, functional ability is distinct from actual levels of social and physical participation, which research has shown to be associated with health and wellbeing. This study distinguishes between functional ability and actual levels of social and physical participation, and utilizes the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework to examine the relationship between IC and the two constructs. Methods: This study utilizes cross-sectional self-reported data from a nationally representative panel of Singapore residents aged 56–75 (N = 6,434). We performed …

Enhancing Deliberativeness: Evaluating The Impact Of Multimodal Reflection Nudges, Shun Yi Yeo, Zhuoqun Jiang, Anthony Tang, Simon Tangi Perrault

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Nudging participants with text-based reflective nudges enhances deliberation quality on online deliberation platforms. The effectiveness of multimodal reflective nudges, however, remains largely unexplored. Given the multi-sensory nature of human perception, incorporating diverse modalities into self-reflection mechanisms has the potential to better support various reflective styles. This paper explores how presenting reflective nudges of different types (direct: persona and indirect: storytelling) in different modalities (text, image, video and audio) affects deliberation quality. We conducted two user studies with 20 and 200 participants respectively. The first study identifies the preferred modality for each type of reflective nudges, revealing that text is most …