Digital Commons Network^™

05.13.2024 Orsp Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

Distinguished Research and Creative Achievement Award, Center for Practical Ethics, DARPA Connect, Air Force Internship

The Suzuki Method: History, Philosophy, And Contemporary Implications, Catherine Begin

Research Papers

Abstract

The Suzuki method emphasizes early musical intervention, involvement of parents/caregivers, and a musical home environment as foundational tenets of its philosophy. Parent involvement and home environment in general education (PI-HE) and in music (PI-HEM) has been operationalized and explored in a growing body of research. Most existing PI-HEM research has measured elementary and instrumental students in grades 4-12, while few studies have measure PI-HEM in preschoolers aged 3-5. Further exploration of the Suzuki Method through the lens of contemporary PI-HE literature could reveal a more specific understanding of the Suzuki Method in our modern landscape so that a conversation …

Expediting Stroke Transfers: Improving Door-In Door-Out Times In A Community Hospital Emergency Department, Susan E. Maynard

Dissertations

Patients with acute ischemic stroke are at high risk for death and disability without rapid treatment. Thrombectomy is a time-sensitive procedure that can restore blood flow to the brain.

Mongolian Pastoralist Parents’ Experiences In Managing Their Primary School Children’S Living Arrangements, Batdulam Sukhbaatar Dr, Klára Tarkó Dr, Batkhand Sukhbaatar Mr

The Qualitative Report

Sending children, especially six-year-old ones, to school put pressure on pastoralist or herder households to balance their livestock herding needs and their children’s schooling needs at the same time. Due to remote campsites located in isolated rural areas far from any schools, pastoralists need to arrange a place for their children to stay during the school year. In this interpretive phenomenological study, we explored pastoralist parents’ experiences in managing different living arrangements for their primary school children during the school year. We conducted semi-structured interviews with five pastoralist parents from a remote county (an administrative division under a province) in …

Symbolic Play And Imagination In Child-Centered Play Therapy, Stephanie Anderson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Child-centered play therapy (CCPT) is based on the theory that a child’s natural means of communication is through play. However, there is a lack of research into how this communication occurs in CCPT sessions. This grounded theory study explored the processes utilized by child-centered play therapists and their clients to communicate with each other using symbolic play and imagination. Data were gathered through semi structured interviews with six child-centered play therapists and three archival videos of CCPT sessions to gain a holistic understanding of how communication occurs in sessions. This study’s data analysis revealed 20 selective and six subcodes associated …

French Algeria: How Influential Was France On The Algerian Identity?, Sabrina Laib

Peace Studies Student Papers and Posters

Algeria is known for its revolutionary acts for freedom against French colonialism. The French ruled the religion after Algeria was handed over to them by the Ottoman Empire. The Empire had previously ruled the Algerian territory 400-500 years prior. Algerians were introduced to French rule, which drastically changed the social and political layout of the country. This paper looks at the two time periods of colonization in Algeria: from 1830-1930, as well as 1931-1962. These time periods are very different from one another and represent unique turning points for the country, with the reason being that the period looks at …

Evil We Desire: Akrasia And The Ethics Of Conspiracy Rhetoric, Andrew Ridgeway

Dissertations - ALL

My dissertation reimagines the work of four prominent rhetorical theorists—Aristotle, Plato, Augustine of Hippo, and Kenneth Burke—through the lens of psychoanalysis to develop a theory of rhetorical ethics that accounts for the subject’s relationship to libidinal satisfaction, or jouissance. In each chapter, I will examine a useful example of conspiracist rhetoric, which will double as both a case study and a point of departure for a Lacanian reimaging of a prominent rhetorical theory or concept. In the first chapter, I examine the “Stop the Steal” conspiracy and the January 6th insurrection to argue that Aristotle’s description of akrasia, or moral …

The Sociological Determinants Of Entrepreneurial Performance: A Study Of Structural Barriers, Creative Strategies, And Heterogeneity Amongst Remi Entrepreneurs In The United States, El-Java Abdul-Qadir

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation investigates the sociological determinants of entrepreneurial performance. Drawing on in-depth interview data collected from 30 individuals who identified as racial, ethnic minority, and immigrant (REMI) entrepreneurs, I focus on the mechanisms at play as they engage in entrepreneurship as a means of social and economic upward mobility. The integration of interdisciplinary theory, literature, and methodologies used in this dissertation leads to unique practical recommendations, research implications, and policy interventions. Through a qualitative investigation and analysis of data collected which captured and documented the lived experiences of REMI entrepreneurs, this dissertation explores the challenges they face on the road …

Selling Water To A Fish: Study Of The Visual Narrative In Tourism Advertising, Ziwei Aletta Ren

Theses - ALL

In the new era dominated by visual culture, the realm of tourism increasingly relies on artistic tales to brand and market destinations. The power of storytelling, intertwined with art, can invite viewers to create psychological and emotional connections with corners of the world yet unexplored. This thesis explores the profound role of visual narratives in tourism advertising, revealing how they forge emotional and psychological connections between viewers and unexplored places. From the historical roots of advertising in ancient civilizations to the modern digital age, visual narratives have evolved to meet the changing desires of travelers, emphasizing authenticity and immersive experiences. …

Indigenous Artistic Activism And The (Re)Envisioned Landscape: Decolonizing Settler Land Knowledge, Hannah Lorell Sparks

Theses - ALL

In this thesis I investigate mimetic Indigenous artwork as a productive site of settler colonial disruption. More specifically, I attend to the potential of these artworks to disorient romantic habits of viewing landscapes. Framed as a critique of settler logics, I argue that the underlying ideologies of Euro-American romantic landscape art have tracked from the 19th-century to today to produce an illusory, aestheticized view of nature as grand and empty, distancing settlers from the material realities of land use and the violence of settler colonialism. In a contributory attempt to decolonize settler understandings of and relations to land, I look …

Love Or Control? Analyzing Emotional Expression Within East Asian Family Through Artworks, Wenyi Qian

Theses - ALL

The author's own spirited and unconventional childhood defied societal norms, challenging conventional expectations for a young girl. In the name of love, their parents endeavored to guide them towards a more reserved and compliant path. Drawing from these personal experiences, this research aims to unravel the intricate fabric of emotional expression within East Asian families and its profound impact on familial relationships and individual psychological well-being through the lens of artistic works. These themes of love and control frequently surface in the creations of East Asian artists, providing a unique perspective to deepen our understanding of the complex emotional dynamics …

Finding A Spiritual Home: Cultural Context And Literary Interpretation, Linziyu Lu

Theses - ALL

Centered around the concept of “spiritual home” and the enduring human quest for it, this thesis explores how individuals seek a sense of belonging and meaning from the perspective of cultural evolution and literary expression. This thesis first examines the impact of social change from the Industrial Revolution to the present day on people’s sense of belonging, meaning, and identity, and discusses the factors that have influenced the stabilization of the spiritual home. Then, drawing on literature, this thesis investigates several typical ways in which people find their spiritual home, including in nature, the divine presence, love and relationship, and …

Bridging The Gap: Neglect And Misunderstanding In Mother-Daughter Relationships, Yuhui Zheng

Theses - ALL

This thesis examines the conflicts between mothers and daughters within the Chinese cultural background. First, it states the domestic and social factors that impact the dynamic of maternal relationships with daughters in China. Then, by analyzing artworks like Everything Everywhere All at Once and Turning Red, it sheds light on how mother-daughter conflicts are represented in the plot and how filmmakers conceive such films to showcase mother-daughter relationships artistically. Finally, the thesis concludes by combining the above research with my own experiences, culminating in a visual thesis about a mother-daughter pair’s journey from conflict to reconciliation. The dissertation provides an …

“Don’T Rock The Boat:” The Social Reproduction Of Inequality In Medical Education, Hannah Connolly

Dissertations - ALL

Social factors are the primary drivers of health inequity in the United States, and medical education has agreed that trainees should develop the skills to acknowledge and address them. However, there is evidence that medical trainees remain underprepared to address the social drivers of health in practice, despite curricular innovations dedicated to this aim. This dissertation is comprised of three papers based on a year-long hybrid ethnography of third- year medical students in the United States. Utilizing participant observation, observant participation, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups, I explore how medical students come to understand their role in addressing the social …

6847 Miles, Ze Tian

Theses - ALL

In this paper, 6847 Miles, I discuss how my time in graduate school and developing my artistic practice has led me to my thesis project. The paper is divided into chapters that discuss how I gradually made my work about myself and my family in relation to themes of self-discovery, self-reconstruction, and acceptance of the fragility and contradiction of familial love. I use photography and video to articulate these themes and my vulnerability.

Digital Deception: Geographies Of Crisis Pregnancy Centers Post-Roe, Patricia Simone Yoxall

Theses - ALL

Anti-abortion groups have opened thousands of ‘crisis pregnancy centers’ (CPCs) across the country that deceive pregnant people in order to discourage or outright prevent them from accessing abortion. Amidst tightening state restrictions, those seeking abortion are increasingly looking online for legal guidance, resources, and care itself. Activists and scholars have celebrated the possibility that the Internet might promise enduring access to abortion care through online pill provision. However, the two papers presented here provide evidence that CPCs are also increasingly adopting a new arsenal of digital strategies to identify and reach those they label “the abortion-determined,” interrupting new geographies of …

The Sea Of Sorrow Has No Shore: A Note On Grief And The Radical Practice Of Grief, Fatemeh Kazemi

Theses - ALL

This paper explores grief through both a personal and cultural prism, specifically focusing on the Iranian context. Intertwining together personal narratives with scholarly discourse, it aims to illuminate the nuanced relationship between individual experiences of sorrow and the broader fabric of collective memory. Notably, it is examining how artistic practice and the visual culture of grief intersect, tracing my own journey through studio work that melds traditional and contemporary representations of mourning. This investigation is bolstered by insights drawn from psychology, sociology, and cultural studies, offering a comprehensive, multidisciplinary understanding of mourning practices in addition to their profound impact on …

Explaining Geographic Disparities In Cardiovascular Disease Mortality: The Roles Of Physical Environment, Industry Structures, And State Policies, Yue Sun

Dissertations - ALL

Geographic disparities in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in the United States are significant and have grown over time. The overarching objective of this dissertation is to explain geographic disparities in CVD mortality from air pollution, counties’ industry structures, and states’ environmental policies. Understanding the associations between these physical environments and CVD mortality is important because it can help to inform strategies for reducing geographic disparities in CVD mortality and promoting population health. In the first empirical chapter, I examine the associations between air pollution and county-level CVD mortality for the years 2016 to 2018 and how these associations vary across …

A Mixed Methods Study Of Chinese And Korean International Student Satisfaction And Experience In American Higher Education, Sujung Lee

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation is a mixed methods study examining Chinese and Korean international undergraduate student satisfaction and their experiences in American higher education. Through survey methodology, I conceptualize the analytical model into “individual factors,” “institutional factors,” and “ethnic-community factors” and find out how these factors contribute to student satisfaction. Furthermore, I look at how national differences manifest into unique ways international students navigate new educational, cultural, and social settings. With in-depth interviews, I focus on understanding international student agentic experiences situated in power dynamics by looking at tensions between “deficit narrative” portraying Asian students as “inassimilable others” and student agency challenging …

Ace Invisibilities: Asexual Social Identity Through Podcasting And Digital Media, Kyle Kreye Webster

Dissertations - ALL

Asexuality is a growing topic of sexuality and media scholarship as representations and expressions of asexual identity have seen a small but significant rise in traditional and digital media throughout the 21st century. However, much of the existing media and scholarship has focused on the definition and self-identification of asexuality. This emphasis has lead to a research gap in the consideration of asexual social identity and its expression in media spaces. To address this gap, this textual analysis study examined the content and social media fan reception of the asexual conversation and interview podcast Sounds Fake But Okay through the …

Initiated Reading: Occult Hermeneutics In Helena Blavatsky's Isis Unveiled, Diana Brown

Dissertations - ALL

In this dissertation, I argue that Theosophical Society co-founder Helena Petrovna Blavatsky’s first major work, Isis Unveiled (1877), describes an occult hermeneutic of myth based on the privileging of intuition, theorized especially in Neoplatonic terms, and premised on a tripartite spirit-soul-body constitution of the human being. Her hermeneutic also privileges initiation, construed as experiential gnosis often produced by ritual, and she opposes both intuition and initiation to reason and empiricism. Theorizing global myths as allegories revealing elements of a universal religion, or secret doctrine, traceable to India, she brings together an esotericism premised on a combination of Indian religion and …

Urban Latinx Community Engagement In Activism And Advocacy: Community Members Interrogating Educational Systems, Policies, & Practices, Jermaine Soto

Dissertations - ALL

This critical qualitative research study (Denzin, 2017) explores how Latinx community members within the Near Westside neighborhood in Syracuse, NY serve as activists and advocates in interrogating educational systems, policies, and practices. By focusing on a specific neighborhood that houses a significant and diverse Latinx community within a smaller U.S. city, this study adds to the scholarship that oftentimes focus on Latinx communities within larger metropolises. This study also allows for a deep sociohistorical understanding of the ways in which Latinx community members engage educational inequities and injustices. This study utilizes a Lat Crit Constructivist Grounded methodology, influenced by Malagon, …

Supporting Science Identity Development With Course-Based Interventions: Strategies To Improve Undergraduate Student Persistence In Stem, Mariah Maxwell

Dissertations - ALL

Science identity can be described as the part of oneself that relates to science, and is made up of four components: competence, performance, recognition, and interest. Science identity is important because students who have a strong science identity tend to persist longer in STEM majors and are more likely to attain a scientific career post-graduation than students with a weak science identity. Despite its importance for undergraduate persistence and career attainment, many students struggle to identify as a scientist, especially those who belong to groups that have historically been underserved in STEM. Therefore, exploring the ability of course-based interventions to …

Caring For Creation: Catholics, Justice, And Socio-Ecologies In Appalachia, Dominic Wilkins

Dissertations - ALL

Geographers have long studied the challenge of achieving holistic justice. Rather than something found wholly within human relations, in recent years these analyses have increasingly understood justice as socio-ecological. The Catholic Church is a global institution with more than 1.3 billion adherents and millions of employees operating hundreds of thousands of parishes, schools, and other institutions across the world. The Church has long centered justice through both activism and intellectual theorizing. To date, however, geographers have not rigorously engaged this work or the ongoing environmental turn within the Catholic Church and its conceptions of justice. Scholars specializing in religions and …

Representation Of People With Disabilities In Legislatures: A Proposed Model Of Approval Representation, Yohannes Takele Zewale

Dissertations - ALL

This research examines the effect of the right to legislative representation for people with disabilities in the fields of Political Science and Law through a combination of doctrinal analysis and interviews with 12 individuals with disabilities. These individuals are disability rights advocates, politicians, and leaders of disability organizations from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, and Egypt, which are the only jurisdictions that have constitutionally recognized descriptive representation of people with disabilities in their legislatures. The research investigates the legal issues and challenges that people with disabilities face in achieving descriptive representation in their legislatures. Additionally, the research identifies gaps and deficiencies …

Exploring Social Workers Potential Role In Mitigating Maternal Mortality Through Coordinated Care, Jena Brown-Talib

Honors Theses

Maternal health disparities persist as a significant challenge in Mississippi, particularly for African American women. This thesis explores the intersection of coordinated care models and social work interventions in addressing maternal mortality. Coordinated care involves collaboration among physicians, nurses, practitioners, social workers, community health workers, and other support services, aiming to maximize pregnant patients' overall health outcomes.

Analyzing strategies of social workers within coordinated care models is important for improving maternal health outcomes within this study. A qualitative approach was chosen to delve beyond statistics and illuminate the reality of maternal health disparities and the efforts to resolve them. Data …

The Impact Of School-Based Education Program On Body Image In Middle School Students, Elizabeth Hendon

Honors Theses

Body dissatisfaction is an emerging public health concern and carries significant health-related consequences. These implications encompass mental health challenges, eating disorders, unhealthy weight management practices, adverse effects on self-esteem, and potential physical health consequences. Because adolescence is a critical period for healthy body image development due to age-related transitions occurring at this time, it is essential to implement an education program to promote positive body image. Educational programs focused on protective factors designed to enhance self-compassion can potentially improve body image, eating attitudes, and body satisfaction. School-based body image education programs aim to provide adolescents with the knowledge, skills, and …

Empowerment Or Entrapment? A Critical Analysis Of Microfinance Operations Among Female Borrowers In Kitui County, Kenya, Eric Kioko Musembi

Theses - ALL

“Empowerment or Entrapment? A Critical Analysis of Microfinance Operations among Female Borrowers in Kitui County, Kenya” is a research project that aims to understand the dynamics of microfinance loan expectations and their implications for women. For this study, one cannot help but borrow or get insights from those who have written about the culture of Africa. To a greater extent, they all touch on the anthropological aspect of Africa. I use anthropological/ cultural theoretical perspectives, political economy, and Afro-feminism as my leading theories. I hypothesize that where women are typically engaged in heavy domestic chores and are undervalued and under-compensated …

Mental Health Problems Of The Firstborn Children In China, Jianye Zou

Theses - ALL

The aim of this thesis is to investigate the negative psychological impact that first-born children experience when facing the impending arrival of younger siblings in their families and the factors of these problems in China. In addition, this thesis helps the children prepare for the process of fitting in the new family structure via relevant artworks. Based on the unique situation, such as the only-child policy and culture of Chinese society, this thesis analyzes the factors affecting first-born children during the transition from being an only child to having siblings during the arrival of a second child within the family. …

Public Lands And Capitalism: The Case Of The Adirondack Park, Weston (Trent) Fenner

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation examines the tensions that surround land management in the Adirondack Park of New York State (NYS), while paying special attention to how the market intrudes into these conflicts. To look at these tensions, this project explores contests over the regulation of public and private land, conflicts over how wilderness is imagined and managed, and the controversies that flow from efforts to alleviate high-use problems in the Adirondack Park. These contests are the basis of the following research questions which reveal the impact of land management conflict in the Adirondack Park, and expose how the market influences park management …