Digital Commons Network^™

Digital Inequalities And U.S. Undergraduate Outcomes Over The First Two Years Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Vikki Katz, Amy B. Jordan, Katherine Ognyanova

Communication Faculty Articles and Research

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated major and rapid changes to undergraduate student learning conditions, but the longer-term consequences of those changes have yet to be fully understood. We assess how digital inequality—defined as challenges in accessing or maintaining a broadband internet connection and functional digital devices—affected undergraduates’ advancement toward on-time graduation over the first two years of the pandemic (2020-2022). We utilize survey data from a representative sample of 1,106 undergraduates at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, a public, 4-year university located in New Jersey, USA. Respondents were undergraduates who had been enrolled in full-time student status throughout the first two years …

Exploring The Strategies In Creating And Sustaining Commons : Organization, Mobilization, And Tactics In The Hong Kong Context, Ho Yin Mickey Wan

Lingnan Theses (MPhil & PhD)

After experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic, social unrest, and the migration wave in the post-2019 era, Hong Kong has undergone a rapid change in its social context. Facing the multifaceted aspects and complexities in the new context, this thesis hopes to explore the possibility of commons and commoning - a pluralistic concept that encompasses a set of principles for social practices in making a more inclusive society - to be a potential alternative, or at least a kind of hope mechanism to enhance people’s well-being amid the current predicament.

Drawing on the seminal literature of Elinor Ostrom, J. K. Gibson-Graham, and …

Development Of An Optimal Path Planning Using Elite Opposition Based Bat Algorithm For A Mobile Robot, Zaharudeen Haruna, Muhammad B. Mu'azu Mu'azu, Prosper Oyibo, Salawuden A. Tijani

Yanbu Journal of Engineering and Science

This research work presents the development of an optimal path planning using elite opposition based bat algorithm (EOBA) for mobile robot, such that the robot avoids obstacle(s) without making contact with them. The bat algorithm (BA) is a nature. inspired meta-heuristic algorithm that works on the basis of the echolocation behavior of bat. It, however, has a poor exploration capability leading to it easily getting stuck in local optima. The EOBA is developed by modifying the BA with the elite opposition-based learning (EOBL) so as to diversify the solution search space and the inertial weight in order to balance its …

Black Swan & Herding Behaviour: A Data Science Perspective, Ranjith Ramachandran

Critical Letters in Economics & Finance

The influence of psychology on the behaviour of investors has been perennially popular since the inception of the behavioural financial theory. The theory led to the question of the rationality of investors, stating that investors are not always rational and are influenced by their own biases. ’Biases’ can be considered a cognitive error that can make individual investors imitate a group’s behaviour rather than atomistic decision-making based on their information. This led to the instigation of the herd instinct phenomenon in stock markets. Several research studies identified that herding was observed in developing stock markets due to asymmetric information …

Values Of Oral Literature In African Society: A Case Of YorùBá Folksongs And Traditional Festivals, Surajudeen Adewale Badru, Victoria Oludunni Ogunniran, Saudat Adebisi Hamzat

An-Najah University Journal for Research - B (Humanities)

Folksongs and traditional festivals are central to almost every activity of the Yoruba people. The contemporary world is full of pains, worries, sufferings and despair and various anti-social activities, in spite of pompous claims and glaring efforts of science and technology in solving old problems to create many new ones. Hence, every individual needs to relax, amuse, and get his or her mind off the dull struggles, worries and sorrows of life through folksongs and festivals. The Yoruba folksongs and festivals as soul-searchers and soul-menders therefore, serve the aesthetic, therapeutic and communicative purposes as tension relievers as well as elixir …

Anarcho-Syndicalism In The Negaunee Branch Of The Finnish Socialist Association, Michael P. Selwa

HS 390 Primary Research Papers

Socialism reached a prominence as a movement in the United States during the early 20th century. Fueled by the machinations of industrial capitalism and labor reform, many workers, immigrants, and other individuals would arrive to the precepts of socialism, a political movement avowing to shirk the constraints of capitalism on the proletariat. Specifically, the question of why and how labor unions should function in a socialist society was a central tenet of debate within the faction of the American Socialist Party. The central question of this article is to examine why anarcho-syndicalists argued against traditional socialist reformist arguments in the …

Women’S Voting Registrations In Marquette County, Lauren E. Mccollor

HS 390 Primary Research Papers

Following the Michigan state amendment of 1918, which granted women the right to vote, the women of Marquette County began registering. This paper looks into the Ishpeming women’s voting records from 1919 and 1920, as well as news paper articles that document early voting registration turnouts in Marquette and Negaunee. The research focused on the patterns of registration in the context of amendments, elections, and political movements at the local, state, and national levels. While there has been extensive research and analysis of early women voters across the United States, no previous studies have analyzed the Ishpeming voting records. Women …

Making Waves: Depression Era Violent Crime In The Upper Peninsula And The United States, Zoe Jancek

HS 390 Primary Research Papers

The Great Depression overlaps with several other important historical eras, all of which had their own impact on crime. This study looks at stressors throughout the decade of the Great Depression to attempt to understand how they affect people and therefore, how they affect the amount of violent crimes committed in both a broad and specific sense. Using statistics and historical accounts, this research analyzes topics such as culture, mental and physical health, substance abuse, gangs, and the effects of Prohibition. The fluctuations can be attributed to economic, social, and cultural factors such as Prohibition and the rise of organized …

Life, Liberty And Property: Property As A Weapon Utilized Against Native Peoples And As A Tool To Strengthen Native Sovereignty In The Upper Midwest, Jacob R A Ludwig

HS 390 Primary Research Papers

While many Americans today recognize the continuing paternalism of the federal government towards Tribal governments, much still remains unknown to the public regarding the specific laws, policies and treaties that have provided the continuing legal authority for this paternalism. Throughout American history, the relationship between the federal government and Native American tribes can be seen through the use of violence both in law, and outside of it. Treaties, the basis for removal, have been used by both the federal government and subsequently tribal governments to assert their authority over land. In the Upper Midwest, various Anishinaabe tribes signed several treaties …

Do Empathy And Compassion Outshine Hatred? The Attitudes Of American Soldiers Towards German Soldiers During World War Ii., Christopher R. Larson

HS 390 Primary Research Papers

WWII was the bloodiest conflict in all of human history, the study and research of the war, events leading up to it, and the post-war world are covered extensively. Through all the historiography relating to WWII, the everyday American soldier who fought on the frontlines is underrepresented in the historiography, a vast majority of works look into high-level generals, key political figures, and major battles and campaigns. This paper looks into the attitudes of those everyday American soldiers who did the brunt of the fighting and what their feelings were of the average German soldiers they were sent to fight …

Providing Exceptional Nursing Care To Children With Down Syndrome, Brooke Glendenning

NURS 502: Critical Inquiry and Scholarship in Nursing Practice

Comprehending the needs of children with Down syndrome leads to a better and safer quality of care, and there is a need for reform within our healthcare system to give workers the tools that are required to provide the best care possible. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the unique challenges that children with Down syndrome face in healthcare settings and emphasize the importance of nurses understanding how to care for this population effectively.

Older Adults’ Health, Ethnicity, And Daily Life, Hyunsook Kang, Mihae Bae

Faculty Publications

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between ethnicity and daily functional disabilities among older adults, focusing on Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs). The analysis uses data from the 2020 National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) survey, which included a sample of individuals aged 57-85 (n=3,005). Respondents provided information on their demographic background (e.g., income, gender, race, age, health, retirement, and marital status) and socioeconomic characteristics through telephone interviews.

The study hypothesized that ethnic differences would be evident in perceived difficulties with ADLs and IADLs in later life. To assess these relationships, …

Enhancing University Retention Through Faculty/Staff Mentor-Mentee Relationships: An Interpersonal Communication Approach, Emma Catherine Richardson

Master's Theses

This study investigates the role of interpersonal communication in faculty and staff mentorship and its impact on undergraduate student retention, focusing on struggling students at Louisiana Tech University. With a national retention rate of 68.2% and persistent disparities among underrepresented groups, improving student retention remains a critical issue in higher education. The research addresses a gap in understanding how communication practices, such as active listening, empathy, and constructive feedback, influence mentorship effectiveness. Guided by Interpersonal Communication Theory and Social Support Theory, this qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews with 12 undergraduate students. Thematic analysis revealed key findings: mentors who demonstrated empathy, …

Associations Among Shopping Methods, Diet Adherence, And Nutrition Knowledge Of Employed Primary Grocery Shoppers In Households With Children, Baylee Schneider

Master's Theses

Obesity is a prominent risk factor for chronic disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States. Obesity and chronic disease rates continue to rise, requiring a need for prevention and intervention efforts. The future role of dietetics is to provide treatment and prevention through holistic approaches, by understanding individuals’ habits that contribute to the onset of disease, specifically their food choices, grocery shopping methods, and influences that waver these selections. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between grocery shopping methods (online or in-store), Mediterranean diet adherence, nutrition knowledge, and food purchase patterns …

2024-2025 Lindenwood University Honors Convocation, Lindenwood University

Honors Convocation Programs

2024-2025 Lindenwood University Honors Convocation

Obstacles Imposed By Families Against University Youth Participation In Political Parties In Jordan, Hana H. Al Nabulsi, Asem M. Al-Bakar

An-Najah University Journal for Research - B (Humanities)

Objective: This study aimed to identify the obstacles imposed by families that hinder the participation of university youth in the political life from their perspective and investigate the relationship between obstacles imposed by families and certain social variables. Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive approach and the sample was selected by a simple random method and consisted of 250 students from Princess Rahma College at Al-Balqa Applied University and it was distributed electronically. Results: found that the economic situation of the family was one of the prominent obstacles to youth participation in political parties. And there is a …

A Feedback-Guided Analysis Of Environmental, Health And Socio-Economic Factors Affecting Drivers’ Willingness To Shift To E-Jeepneys, Charlotte Kendra Gotangco Gonzales, Katrina Abenojar, Carlos Rosauro Manalo, Melliza Templonuevo Cruz, Maria Obiminda L. Cambaliza, James Bernard Simpas, Imee Delos Reyes, John Wong, Bernell Go, Krizelle Cleo Fowler, Rene Marlon Panti, Emma E. Porio, Jean Jardeleza Mijares

Environmental Science Faculty Publications

The Jeepney Modernization Program involves the replacement of traditional jeepneys with more efficient alternatives, including modern enclosed electric vehicles, alongside operational improvements to the public transportation system. This study aims to assess the environmental, health and socio-economic factors impacting drivers’ willingness to shift to e-jeepneys. Feedback-Guided Analysis was used as a framework for designing an interdisciplinary approach towards understanding the decision-making paradigms of drivers plying a specific route in Quezon City, Metro Manila. Measurements of drivers’ exposure to PM2.5 and associated health parameters were complemented by key informant interviews delving into income, expenses, valuation of benefits and decision-making paradigms. A …

22. Airness [Poster, April 17-25, 2025], University Of Northern Iowa

LGBTQIA+ Archive Class Projects

Advertisement poster for upcoming UNI production Airness. Airness is a production focused on an underdog story of rock and roll through the art of air guitar, pushing the boundaries of gender and gender expression.

Accessibility Disclosure Statements: Best Practices For Documenting Inclusive And Accessible Web-Based Research Design, Alicia Mason, Elizabeth Spencer, Pan Liu, Kristen Livingston, Sakshi Bhati, Angela Ashmore, Tristan A. Spencer, Lauren Shepard

Faculty Submissions

Accessibility disclosure is a core principle of the Project IRIS Best Practice Framework. This instructional resource-- Accessibility Disclosure Statements: Best Practices for Documenting Inclusive Web-Based Research Design-introduces options for reporting accessible web-based research design efforts in scholarly and professional publications. The three forms of accessibility disclosure statements are introduced: summary statements, reports of analysis--both general and specific-, and detailed process descriptions. Each of these strategies including terms, conceptual definitions, and examples are provided. The instructional resource may be of interest to undergraduate and graduate course instructors teaching research methods courses in a variety of social science disciplines.

From Past To Present: Tracing Africa’S Path To Universal Health Coverage, Evaline Chepchirchir Langat, Paul Russell Ward, Hailay Abrha Gesesew, Lillian Mwanri

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

At the 58th World Health Assembly in 2005, the international community charted a course for universal health coverage (UHC), aiming to ensure access to health care for all in need, of sufficient quality, and without causing financial hardship. At the time, barriers to accessing health care were overwhelming, particularly in low-and middle-income countries like Africa. Currently, 50 of Africa’s 54 countries are in various phases of UHC implementation. Some are developing national UHC agendas, while others have made significant progress but still face gaps in meeting UHC targets. This mini review comprehensively examines the literature to understand the temporal and …

A Review Of The Ripple Effect Of Parental Incarceration: Suggestions For System Improvement From Neonatal Development Through Adolescence, Karen Thew, April Terry

International Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities

Parental incarceration has the potential to drastically affect the social, behavioral, and physical lives of children. Such negative impacts include prenatal and chronic health conditions, behavioral and mental health issues, developmental delays, juvenile and criminal legal system involvement, and overall declines in well-being. These damaging outcomes occur for babies delivered during their mothers’ incarceration with negative lingering effects seen throughout the lifespan. Due to the stigmatization of incarceration, these children may experience bullying, engage in isolating behaviors, and struggle within the school, which may lead to the school-to-prison pipeline. While prevention and intervention services directed at these youth could not …

Flexible Work, Rigid Discrimination, Natalia Ramírez Lee

Center for Racial and Economic Justice

No abstract provided.

Journal Of Educational Leadership In Action, Volume 9, Issue 3, Full Issue

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between Industry Regulation And The Quality Of Micro-Dramas, Shuoyu Yao

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

This paper is a study on the micro-drama industry, exploring the reasons for a large number of low-quality micro-dramas. Specifically, there are two potential problems: (1) the industry value allocation model is unreasonable, so producing high-quality micro-dramas does not receive sufficient returns; (2) regulatory oversight of the industry is insufficient. To investigate this recent phenomenon and the underlying problems, we collected a dataset of 165 micro-dramas and use the newly introduced regulation on the micro-drama industry in June 2024 as a policy shock. The findings show that, before the new regulations were introduced, micro-dramas with higher quality in expression received …

Law Jobs: Professional Regulation, The Division Of Legal Labor, And Institutional Change, Emily S. Taylor Poppe

Fordham Law Review

No abstract provided.

Beyond The Psyche And Into The Social: How Educational Leaders Embrace Sociological Resilience To Disrupt Systems And Advance Equity, Jason Le-Reselosa, Anindya Kundu

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

Oftentimes, educational leaders and stakeholders are encouraged to be “resilient” in an unfair and inequitable education system that is entrenched within our social contexts and spaces. This meaning of resilience is manifested by “pushing” oneself through adversity and the status quo by employing adaptive coping strategies and measures to sustain mental health capacities, even if one could be on the brink of losing control of their sense of self. In this article, we reimagine resilience on how educational leaders from different socioeconomic backgrounds adopt a revolutionary approach to resilience that works in tandem with disrupting systemic issues, rather than remaining …

Is There A Sexual Stereotype Linking Casual Sex With Low Self-Esteem?, Susan K. Sprecher, Julie Verette-Lindenbaum, Diane Felmlee, Fiona Therese Fleming, Yasmin Odeh

Faculty Publications – Sociology and Anthropology

An experimental vignette study was conducted to examine the pervasiveness of sexual stereotypes that women (although not men) who engage in casual sex are perceived to have lower self-esteem–and are considered to be less desirable for a relationship–than those who do not engage in casual sex. In a 2 × 2 experimental design, we embedded information about the recent relationship history (two casual sexual relationships vs. two committed sexual relationships) in a hypothetical online dating profile, and also manipulated the profile author’s gender. The participants (N = 318, obtained from two college settings and through Prolific) forecasted that an …

Violence Against Healthcare Workers In Kenya: A Cross-Sectional Sub-Analysis Of The Global Vishwas Study, Reena Shah, Jasmit Shah, Rakhtan K. Qasba, Ruman K. Qasba, Annastacia Mbithi, Eric Njenga, Akshat Banga, Rahul Kashyap, Salim Surani

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

Background: Global concern exists for workplace violence against healthcare workers (HCWs), especially in low and middle-income nations. This violence includes physical, verbal, or sexual abuse and has a significant impact despite initiatives like Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines. We conducted a study in Kenya to address this issue.

Methods: We did a cross-sectional survey that collected responses during June 6th to August 9th, 2022, focused on healthcare professionals in Kenya within the global ViSHWaS study. Violence against healthcare professionals in multiple Kenyan counties was analysed, The study reached participants through social media, emails, and other channels using a …

State Constitutional Rights, Naturally, Daniel B. Rodriguez

UMKC Law Review

No abstract provided.

Digital Inclusion And Systemic Barriers: The Role Of Technology In Shaping The Participation Of Women Of Color In Hybrid Workspaces, Sanket Patole, Rob E. Carpenter, Rochell Mcwhorter

Human Resource Development Faculty Publications and Presentations

The rise of hybrid and remote work models, facilitated by digital technologies, has been widely regarded as a means of enhancing workforce diversity and inclusion. However, this study critically examines how these digital workplaces simultaneously reinforce systemic inequalities, particularly for women of color. Drawing on digital divide theory and intersectionality theory, this research explores the ways in which women of color navigate technological barriers, algorithmic bias, and workplace surveillance while developing adaptive strategies to assert their authority in digital spaces. Through a qualitative, interpretivist approach, the study conducted semi-structured interviews with 13 women of color working in hybrid and remote …