Digital Commons Network^™

The Roles Of Shame In Ex-Christians' Personal Experiences And Deconversion Journeys, Anaya Bruno

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

Although the benefits of religion on individuals’ mental wellbeing have been well-studied, research exploring aspects of religion that may prove harmful to mental wellbeing is limited. This study explores the roles of shame in the experiences of ex-Christians that led to their deconversion. The study’s results have implications for understanding the experiences of religious trauma, considering that chronic shame has been linked to the development of trauma. Respondents, recruited via Reddit, answered survey questions about the ways in which they perceived shame to influence their religious experiences, personal experiences, and religious deconversion. Inductive thematic analysis was utilized to derive themes …

If You Want To Fly, Nandi Gayles '29

Black Studies Student Scholarship

My research explores the intersections of Sociology and Literature rooted in the unique gendered perspective of Blackness in the novels The Bluest Eye and Beloved by Toni Morrison. Morrison’s works are rooted in the authenticity of Blackness and being. She inherently studies human behavior and social interaction to communicate narratives that have often gone untold––those that center the Black experience. Morrison’s work is revolutionary as she intentionally wrote to disregard the white gaze. Her work is literature rooted in a sociological landscape that contributes to personal and social liberation of Black people. Using auto-theory as my methodology, this project places …

If You Want To Fly, Nandi Gayles '29

Sociology & Anthropology Student Scholarship

My research explores the intersections of Sociology and Literature rooted in the unique gendered perspective of Blackness in the novels The Bluest Eye and Beloved by Toni Morrison. Morrison’s works are rooted in the authenticity of Blackness and being. She inherently studies human behavior and social interaction to communicate narratives that have often gone untold––those that center the Black experience. Morrison’s work is revolutionary as she intentionally wrote to disregard the white gaze. Her work is literature rooted in a sociological landscape that contributes to personal and social liberation of Black people. Using auto-theory as my methodology, this project places …

The Most Age-Diverse Society In Our Country's History, Cal J. Halvorsen, Logan Fox, Tim B. Zielonko

Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging

The public narrative is that the United States population is getting older. This is, indeed, true. We have more people over age 50 than we have ever had in our country—both in total numbers and in the share of the population. The numbers of older people will continue to grow, all the way up until the projections stop at the year 2100. Many have asked, “What will we do with all of these older people?”

Milan Markovic, Milan R. Markovic

Faculty CVs

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Baseline Cognition On Dual-Task Performance: Tracking Verbal Accuracy And Fluency In Adults At Risk For Alzheimer’S Disease, Rebecca Nicole Frederichs

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is increasing in prevalence as life expectancy continues to rise, highlighting the need for sensitive measures to detect early cognitive changes. This study examined the effects of baseline cognitive status on dual-task performance over time, in terms of dual-task cost, verbal fluency, and verbal accuracy in older adults at risk for AD. This study utilized a quantitative secondary analysis of the longitudinal dataset, the Digital, Cognitive, Multi-Domain Alzheimer Risk Velocity (DC-MARVel) study (Gray et al., 2022). Participants were categorized into low, medium, or high cognitive tertiles based on baseline Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status …

Essays In Whistleblowing, Crime, And Experimental Economics, Danielle Nickeisha Purcell

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation comprises three essays on how institutional strength, enforcement practices, and cognitive load affect behavior. The first essay presents a laboratory experiment that varies the extent to which an individual in a position of authority can interfere with the outcome of whistleblowing, holding all other monetary incentives fixed. Strengthening institutions raises whistleblowing rates, lowers theft, and reduces the rate of bribe offers, while leaving authorities’ acceptance of bribes unchanged when they face no punishment for accepting them. The second essay studies the end of stop and frisk in Chicago following the 2015 ACLU-CPD settlement agreement, which cut annual investigatory …

South Dakota County Population Trends : Population Estimates And Components Of Change, April 1, 2020 - July 1, 2025, Weiwei Zhang

Center for Rural Vitality and Community Well-being Project Reports

DOI: 10.62812//GRRV1852

Interactive map:  https://arcg.is/1jeTb83

This report is in relation to this interactive map that shows how population change varied across South Dakota’s 66 counties between April 1, 2020 and July 1, 2025. It distinguishes overall population gain or loss and the demographic components behind those changes: natural change—births minus deaths—and net migration—people moving into a county minus those moving out.

Overview: 
South Dakota’s population increased from an April 1, 2020 estimates base of 886,656 to 935,094 on July 1, 2025, a gain of 48,438 residents, or 5.5%. This base-to-2025 growth rate ranked 13th among the 50 states. Measured instead …

Tales Of The Empathic Support Provider: How Emerging Adult Women Make Sense Of Providing Empathic Support To Female Friends, Emma R. Eslinger

Department of Communication Studies: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The current study explored the stories and reflections of 33 emerging adult women who made sense of their empathic support provider (ESP) identity in the context of female friendships. From the standpoint of the retrospective storytelling heuristic, within communicated narrative sense-making theory, participants told stories about their ESP identity, including how they provide support to others and reflect on the benefits of drawbacks of serving in this role (CNSM, Koenig Kellas, 2022). Under Proposition 1 of CNSM theory, meanings, values, and beliefs (MVBs) that ESP women expressed in this role were depicted as key takeaways gathered. Findings illuminated how ESP …

Lab Escape, Peter Brauninger

Theses

The core subject of this paper focuses on several key traits of effective horror games. Using a paper and prototype level, the project conducts a thorough examination of horror in the medium to better understand how to develop effective games in this genre. Looking at examples from different media, the objective of this research is to identify key components of effective horror games. Going through the research, we can identify three key traits that are critical to the genre. Within horror games, accuracy of these elements is even more essential. Having the player be constantly tense, and enjoying the game …

Impacts Of Climate Hazards On Employment And Earnings By Hazard Type, Industry, Race, And Ethnicity, Dania V. Francis, Keren M. Horn

Sustainable Solutions Lab

We examine the relationship between climate-related disasters and subsequent county-level aggregate employment and earnings. We combine earnings and employment data from 2000 to 2023 with data on disasters to estimate local projection impulse response functions relating extreme disaster events to cumulative percent changes in employment and earnings. On average, disasters appear to reduce employment growth three to five years post disaster. There are small positive impacts on earnings. These results are largely driven by responses to hurricanes and tropical storms. Key rebuilding industries such as construction see short-term gains in employment that turn to losses in the longer-term that are …

Privacy, Paternalism, And Standing In Health Professions Regulation, Anthony Sangiuliano

Dalhousie Law Journal

When investigating whether a doctor has behaved unethically while treating a patient, professional regulatory colleges may search patients’ confidential medical records without patients’ consent. I argue that this practice is not paternalistic, nor does it usurp patients’ standing to decide for themselves whether to sacrifice their privacy to hold the doctor to account for professional wrongdoing. College investigations that non-consensually invade patient privacy do not express disrespect for patients’ agency because they aim to mitigate harm to the broader public. Unlike criminal prosecutions of doctors which uphold moral values pervading the public at large, college investigations enforce ethical standards within …

Infrastruktur, Kelembagaan Tani, Kemandirian Ekonomi Desa: Geografi Dan Paradoks Kepemimpinan Di Indonesia, Tri Wahyu Cahyono

Jurnal Ekonomi dan Pembangunan Indonesia

This study examines determinants of village economic independence (PADes) in Indonesia, focusing on infrastructure, social capital, and leadership. Using 2024 PODES census data (N=84,240) and clustered logistic regression, results show road infrastructure as the strongest factor (OR: 2.27). A “leadership paradox” emerges, where higher education of village heads negatively correlates with PADes formation. Geographic analysis reveals infrastructure effectiveness depends on topography, with lowland areas gaining the greatest structural advantage. Findings highlight the need for topography-based policy differentiation to strengthen fiscal independence in rural Indonesia.

Nh Ece Research Consortium Research & Evaluation Stakeholder Map, Jess Carson, Evan England, Lisa Bauer

New Hampshire Early Care and Education Research Consortium

New Hampshire's early care and education (ECE) ecosystem is complex and includes a broad, dynamic community of people and organizations who contribute to and rely upon ECE research. This visual stakeholder "map" documents the organizations that contribute to research and evaluation in NH ECE. These maps rely on contributions, updates, and refinements from the field and are meant to be a shared resource reflecting the complexity and partnerships in New Hampshire's ECE ecosystem.

Factors/Conditions For Nh Home-Based Providers Operations Survey Recruitment Flyer (Spanish), Child Trends

New Hampshire Early Care and Education Research Consortium

No abstract provided.

Nh Ece Research Consortium Research Funder Stakeholder Map, Jess Carson, Evan England, Kamala Nasirova

New Hampshire Early Care and Education Research Consortium

New Hampshire's early care and education (ECE) ecosystem is complex and includes a broad, dynamic community of people and organizations who contribute to and rely upon ECE research. This visual stakeholder "map" documents the research funders that support NH ECE. These maps rely on contributions, updates, and refinements from the field and are meant to be a shared resource reflecting the complexity of partnerships in NH's ECE ecosystem.

New Hampshire Families' Ece Needs And Preferences Project Summary, Jess Carson

New Hampshire Early Care and Education Research Consortium

No abstract provided.

Cultural Effectiveness In Early Care And Education Systems In New Hampshire Project Summary, Evan England

New Hampshire Early Care and Education Research Consortium

No abstract provided.

Religiosity And Female Autonomy In Indonesia, Milda Irhamni

Economics and Finance in Indonesia

This study estimates the effect of religiosity on married women’s autonomy within households in Indonesia using panel data from the 2007 and 2014 rounds of the Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS4 and IFLS5). Women’s autonomy is measured by the wife’s decision-making power relative to her husband across eighteen household decisions, complemented by indirect proxies such as asset ownership and contraceptive use. Applying household fixed-effect and IV estimation to control for endogeneity, the analysis finds little robust evidence that religiosity systematically reduces female autonomy, suggesting that any negative association is weak and sensitive to specification.

Disintermediation From The Perspective Of Real Estate Token Economics, Mateusz Aleksander Bonca

Studia i Materiały Wydział Zarządzania Uniwersytet Warszawski

Purpose: This article examines the issue of disintermediation through the example of real estate investing with tokens. The aim is to determine whether, and to what extent, intermediaries can be removed in blockchain‑based property investments.

Methodology: The analysis is based on secondary data from fields such as token economics, management, legal science, and sociology. An analytical and deductive approach was used, drawing on interdisciplinary literature reviews and data from selected company websites involved in real estate tokenisation.

Results: It was found that the idea of fully removing the intermediation of public and private institutions (agencies, notaries, courts) in real estate …

How Important Is Clean Energy To Utahns?, Elizabeth Brunner, Stacia Ryder

Utah People and Environment Poll (UPEP)

Utah's energy mix has changed significantly over the past several decades as it has moved to cleaner forms of generation. For example, according to the Energy Information Administration, in 2024, coal fueled about 45% of Utah's total electricity net generation, down from 75% in 2015. As can be seen in the chart below, the state anticipates demand growth, with further reductions in coal alongside a significant increase in solar, storage, and natural gas by 2032. Though not represented in these charts, plans for nuclear power generation have been proposed in Brigham City as well as outside of Green River. Utah …

Gender Differences In The Prevalence Of Anxiety And Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder And Associated Factors Among Adults In Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Basil Masinza, Amina Abubakar, Joy Mukubuyi, Patrick Mwangala

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background: Sex and gender equity in research has a growing focus, but there are gaps in fully integrating it in mental health research, limiting adoption of sex and gender-sensitive interventions. This review adopted a gendered perspective to synthesize prevalence and associated factors contributing to differences in anxiety and PTSD in SSA.

Methodology: Electronic search was conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science databases. Empirical studies conducted in SSA, targeting adults >18 years and having gender-disaggregated anxiety and PTSD prevalence and factors were included. Meta-analysis of proportions stratified by sex was done, and narrative synthesis of the …

Framing Schools As A Second Home For Children, Christian Duncan

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This capstone explores how a structured professional development program can create greater unity and mutual understanding among educators by framing the school as a “second home” comparable to a parent household. The project developed from observations of division, dissatisfaction, and strained relationships among educators and considers how these dynamics can influence school culture and the stability students experience. Key influences included research on child development, home and school stability, teacher well-being, professional relationships, and effective professional development. Research from Darling-Hammond and Cook-Harvey (2018) emphasized the importance of emotional and physical safety, supportive adult relationships, and belonging for student development, while …

Carrying The Midwife’S Bag Across The Atlantic: German Midwives And Paraprofessional Midwifery In The Us, 1850s-1920s, Melanie Simone Lorenz

Dissertations (1934 -)

This dissertation compares the occupational development of midwifery in the United States and Germany between the 1850s and the 1920s. It examines how midwifery in nineteenth-century Germany developed into an early paraprofession through its inclusion in the paramedical division of labor and the creation of professional associations and a trade journal. In the United States, by contrast, such a development did not occur. Instead, physicians excluded midwives from the emerging paramedical division of labor. Even though a dedicated group of German American physicians and midwives attempted to replicate the German model of midwifery in St. Louis, Missouri, this paraprofessional form …

Nh Ece Research Consortium One-Pager, Jess Carson, Evan England

New Hampshire Early Care and Education Research Consortium

The New Hampshire Early Care and Education (NH ECE) Research Consortium is a network of researchers and research users committed to strengthening the state's ECE landscape through the use of data. This one-pager briefly describes what the Consortium does, who is involved, and how to learn more.

Believing And Belonging: Americans’ Religious Practices And Their Trust In Government, Hwayong Shin

Weidenbaum Center Survey (WCS) Reports

Data from the Weidenbaum Center Survey (WCS) offer new insights into Americans’ religious and political lives by addressing two broad questions. First, how religious are Americans today, and how does religiosity vary across age and partisan groups? Waves 1–8 of the WCS, conducted between 2023 and 2026, are used to answer this question. Second, how are different forms of religiosity associated with trust in government, and do these relationships differ across age and partisan groups? To answer this question, this article leverages Waves 6–8 of the WCS, which included measures of trust in government, conducted between 2025 and 2026. The …

Investigating And Re-Imagining Contemporary Religious Leadership, Amy Lawton, Feyza Akova

Sociology Faculty Research and Scholarship

Sociologists, anthropologists, cognitive scientists, and others have shown that religion is a feature of life in every known human society (Bellah 2011). While the cultural contexts, organizing principles, and values of each religion differ greatly – so much so that “religion” is a problematic universal category (Asad 1993) – many religions do share certain characteristics. One of those characteristics – shared among most social groups regardless of their purpose – is leadership, variously defined. Spiritual and religious groups, gatherings, and collectives have specific individuals that they turn to for wisdom, spiritual or moral guidance, fostering community, and/or ritual facilitation. We …

Life Cycle Of Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Systems Enable Carbon Capture, Utilization, And Storage: A Review, Nabeel Al-Qirim, Mohammad Kamrul Hasan, Hussam Al Hamadi, Akm Ahasan Habib, Shayla Islam

All Works

The lithium-ion battery (LIB) is the primary component of electric vehicles (EVs), and its environmental consequences are significant for the eventual widespread adoption of EVs. Recycling used LIBs protects the environment and allows for the reuse of valuable materials. To achieve the goal of a circular economy, LIB recycling processes that conserve environmentally friendly resources and maintain sustainability need to be developed. The critical technology for achieving global climate goals is carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), which makes it possible to significantly lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions across power and industrial systems. The LIB recycling and CCUS are becoming …

Hope College Magazine, Volume 58, Number 1: Summer 2026, Hope College

Hope College Magazine

No abstract provided.

Advocacy For Inclusive Play In South Dallas: Expanding Access For Children In Underserved Areas, Aryanna Fellows, Mary Jan Greer

Summer 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project aimed to advocate for more inclusive and accessible playgrounds for children of all abilities in underserved communities in South Dallas. Guided by the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance (PEOP) Model, the project evaluated playground accessibility and identified environmental barriers that limit participation for children with disabilities. Methods included a community needs assessment, playground observations using a standardized accessibility assessment tool, surveys, and stakeholder collaboration. Participants included community members, caregivers, organizational stakeholders, and children who utilize local playgrounds. Findings were synthesized to develop evidence-based recommendations and educational resources to support future playground improvements. The expected outcomes included increased awareness of inclusive playground …