Digital Commons Network^™

Grief Among Parents Who Have Lost A Child To An Opioid Overdose: A Qualitative Study, Laura Joy Russin

ETD Collection

Grief is experienced in many ways. Many bereaved people demonstrate resilience, however, there are those who suffer a prolonged grief for a variety of reasons including issues related to the relationship with the deceased, the state of the relationship prior to the loss, the nature of the loss, and perceived social support following the loss. In 2024, over 107,000 people died of a drug overdose in the United States and hundreds of thousands of family members were left behind to mourn. Despite the prevalence of drug-related deaths, the grieving process following this type of loss remains understudied. The proposed project …

Patient And Provider Perceived Barriers To Completion Of Breast And Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Spanish-Speaking Patients, Alexa Figueroa Baiges Md, Mph, Kayla Flores Md, Dawn Wankowski Ms, Manuel Lamptey Ms

Scientific Day

Background/Significance:

Limited studies have shown that Latino/Hispanic populations have disproportionately low breast and colorectal cancer screening rates in the United States. The role of language barriers on these disparities remains understudied. This project evaluated patient and provider-perceived barriers to breast and colorectal cancer (CRC) screening among Spanish-speaking patients.

Purpose:

Given that 16% of the Milwaukee population is Spanish speaking, this project aimed to identify barriers to cancer screening among Spanish-speaking patients receiving primary care at Aurora Healthcare clinics, to inform strategies to improve screening equity.

Methods:

A cross-sectional survey project was conducted among Spanish-speaking patients due for breast or colorectal …

Dynamic Displacement: How Algorithmic Rent Pricing Threatens To Exacerbate Barriers To Housing Voucher Use And Mobility, James W. Matthews

Minnesota Journal of Law & Inequality

Tenant-based rental vouchers have long played a central role in efforts to expand affordability and economic mobility. Despite growing demand amid a deepening housing crisis, funding for federal rental assistance is under attack. Meanwhile, longstanding barriers, such as rising rents, source of income discrimination, and program design limitations, continue to restrict access to housing, especially in high-opportunity neighborhoods. These challenges are now compounded by the growing influence of private equity firms and other institutional investors, whose rapid acquisition of rental properties is reshaping the market by prioritizing extractive profits over affordability and tenant stability. At the same time, consolidation among …

Using Environmental Scans To Help Direct And Sustain Local Best Practices, Emily Lapworth, Carol Kussmann

Joseph P. Healey Library Publications

The digital landscape is in a state of constant change, and there is no one-size-fits-all formula for managing your digital assets, so understanding your local context is crucial to planning an effective digital stewardship strategy. Whether you are just starting out or have been at the same institution for 10 years, conducting an environmental scan can help. What are the internal and external changes you need to manage? What kind of stuff are you dealing with, and who are the stakeholders? Where is it located, and what systems are you using? What tools are available, and how have best practices …

Front Matter

Texas A&M Law Review

Front Matter.

Artrepreneurs & Business Survival: Bridging The Gap To Creative Success, Ryan Michael Moore

Masters Theses

Artrepreneurs — freelance artists and small studio owners within creative industries — frequently lack training in essential business management skills in financial management, client pipeline development, and business sustainability. These factors exacerbate already statistically high business failure rates, adding to the burdens experienced by creative entrepreneurs. Conventional wisdom and guidance for entrepreneurs is found in experience-based advice from books, blogs and business mentors. While these offer valuable insights, the lack of data-driven advice highlights an opportunity to close the knowledge gap. This research investigates visually engaging educational systems to guide the creation of new visual solutions which address these challenges. …

Exploring The Uses And Gratifications Of Digital Ministry: A Qualitative Case Study Of Christian Engagement With Jonathan Pokluda’S Instagram, Lashalle A. Schornberg

Masters Theses

This study explores the uses and gratifications of Christian social media engagement through a qualitative content analysis of Instagram posts and user comments from digital ministry figure Jonathan Pokluda. While online ministries reach millions daily, limited research has examined how this content meets the spiritual, emotional, and relational needs of young audiences within a social media context. Grounded in uses and gratifications theory, this study analyzes 1,534 publicly available Instagram comments to identify patterns of engagement and user motivation. Through thematic analysis, eight primary forms of engagement emerged: brief encouragement and affirmation, emotional resonance, personal testimony and life disclosure, conversational …

Family Is Forever: A Qualitative Study Of The Impacts Of Adoption On Adoptees, Rebekah Mei Hedlund

Masters Theses

This study explores the lived experiences of adoptees and the ways in which adoption has impacted them. Grounded in communication theory of identity (CTI), this research examines how adoptees express their identities throughout their lives via communication. Using a qualitative approach, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with adoptees over the age of 18 from diverse backgrounds. The findings revealed three key themes from adoptees: identity, education, and opportunity. Participants described identity to be an ongoing and evolving process throughout life, often influenced by biological origins and family dynamics.

The theme of education emerged through participants’ desire for educating potential adoptive …

Returning To The Third Place: For Mental And Spiritual Well-Being, Angela M. Creason

Masters Theses

This study investigates the impact of Generation Z’s (Gen Z’s) digital immersion and post-COVID lifestyle patterns on their interpersonal relationships. The literature shows that anxiety, continuous online connectivity, and pseudo-relationships developed through social media hinder their ability to form and maintain face-to-face connections. Using case studies, visual analyses, and research-grounded graphic design, the project examines how Gen Z utilizes coffee shops as a hybrid space for work and selective social interaction. The analysis shows that this generation is open to in-person engagement when environments feel convenient, low-pressure, and aligned with their values. These findings inform the development of Percolate, a …

A Quantitative Case Study Of Family Communication Patterns Theory And Parental Awareness Of Divine Rivals, Calista Coletti

Masters Theses

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine how parents of different family communication pattern types are aware of the connect of the books their teens read. The problem is that parents have different awareness levels of the content of teens’ books or the books their teens read and it is unknown why they differ and what factors influence differences in awareness. This study focuses on the book Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross. The findings show that families with a high conversation orientation have parents who know more about the content in the books their teens read. The results …

Insights On The Origins And Repercussions Of Corruption In Haiti, Yves Louissaint

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Male Perspectives On The National Rifle Association And Gun Reform, Holly Jo Tatman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Employability Skills Development In Career And Technical Education: Administrators’ Perspectives, Emily Manuel, Bradley M. Coleman, Jon W. Ramsey, J. Shane Robinson, Mary Jo Self

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs in the United States have provided a combination of academic, technical, and employability skills to prepare students for college and careers. Employability skills, also known as soft skills, life skills, or behavioral skills, are developed through multiple CTE program components. This mixed-methods study explored administrators’ perceptions of Oklahoma CTE’s capacity to develop employability skills in students to meet the needs of the local community. A convergent parallel mixed methods design was used to collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative findings suggest problem-solving, logical reasoning, and critical thinking were the highest-rated skills developed. …

Homeschool Music: The Predictive Relationship Between Parents’ Homeschooling Approach And Religiosity For Music Learning Choices, Ashley Virginia Finke

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative predictive correlational study was to examine how accurately the combination of parents’ homeschooling approach and parents’ religiosity predict music learning choices for homeschooled students. A Florida Department of Education report showed an increase in homeschooling between the 2013-14 and 2023-24 school years, while an Institute of Education Sciences report documented that 49 percent of homeschooled students in the United States participated in music in 2016. Despite these reports, limited research exists of homeschool music education in the United States and, specifically, in Florida. This study resulted from the related literature and the dearth of current …

Research Progress And Think Tank Contributions To Regional Coordinate Development, Major Function Zoning Strategy, And Modern Spatial Governance—Based On Review And Analysis Of Contributions By Fan Jie’S Team In Bulletin Of Chinese Academy Of Sciences, Jie Fan, Jian Gao, Kan Zhou, Gan Li

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Based on the think tank research published by Fan Jie’s team in Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences, this study reviews the progress of human geography in the fields of regional coordinate development, major function zoning strategy, and the spatial governance system. Furthermore, it focuses on reviewing the think tank contributions that serve the need of major national strategic decision-making. Think tank contributions include the followings. (1) Through continuous engagement in major preliminary research for national Five-Year Plans, the team has established a prominent think tank brand for the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This brand focuses on regional coordinate development …

Dialogue Between Mind And Algorithm: Deep Symbiosis Of Psychology And Artificial Intelligence, Xiaolan Fu, Zheng Yan

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

As artificial intelligence (AI) evolves from a supportive tool into a collaborative partner, the convergence of psychology and AI is gradually shifting from one-way application toward deep symbiosis. This study discusses the mutual empowerment resulting from their interaction, as well as the challenges they face and potential pathways to breakthroughs. On the one hand, psychology empowers AI by enhancing its human-like intelligence and social adaptability through cognitive modeling and ethical constraints; on the other hand, AI empowers psychology by leveraging multimodal data and algorithmic models to revolutionize psychological assessment and intervention methods. This deep symbiosis requires a clear-eyed acknowledgment of …

Human Service Professionals’ Perspectives Of Family Reunification Programs, Tasha Tolbert

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

The Procedures And Perceived Impact Of Pastoral Succession In A Family-Led Church: A Case Study, Yvonne H. Hines

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Leadership transitions in any viable organization are inescapable and complex. Pastoral leadership is a challenging task whether one is charged with an astronomical or miniscule calculation of individuals. Pastoral succession, one of the most significant leadership undertakings in the Christian church, encompasses the transfer of authority, an indispensable component to the effectual progression of the church. Churches in the United States are presently confronted with a contemporary dynamic in pastoral leadership, family-led churches. Pulpits traditionally filled by denominational officials or congregational elections are currently impacted by the automatic succession of family members as senior pastors in the family-led church setting. …

Winning Formula: The Life Of Colonel Edward R. Bradley, Lorraine Potter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Edward R. Bradley was a towering cultural icon of the early twentieth century. He is best known as the owner and breeder of four Kentucky Derby winning horses and as the owner and operator of the longest-running illegal casino in American history. However, Bradley's story has rarely been told, due to both his characteristic humility and the dubious nature of his profession. Bradley worked, lived, and invested in nearly every pivotal American region during the Progressive Era, plying his trade as a highly successful gambler, speculator, and horse breeder. Though his accomplishments were immense, his demeanor remained dignified, plainspoken, and …

Perceived Mattering As A Cognitive-Affective Factor In Academic Behavior: Exploring Its Role In Achievement Motivation, Self-Handicapping, And Academic Performance In The Post-Secondary Context, Audrene Kerr-Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The study examined the role of perceived mattering in the academic experiences of post-secondary students, focusing on its association with academic motivation, self-handicapping behavior, and academic performance. Grounded in Rosenberg and McCullough’s mattering theory, and informed by the social cognitive theory, self-determination theory, attribution theory, the looking-glass self, and protective motivation theory, a quantitative research design was employed utilizing regression and two-way ANOVA analyses. The study hypothesized that higher perceived mattering would be positively associated with intrinsic motivation and negatively associated with extrinsic motivation, that higher perceived mattering would reduce self-handicapping, and that academic performance differences would exist across gender …

A Quantitative Study Examining The Impact Of Gender On Covenantal Empowerment And Mental Health Quality Of Life Among 911 Dispatchers, Michael Ryan Udriét

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative correlational study examined factors affecting the mental health quality of life (MHQoL) of 911 dispatchers in Greater Richmond, Virginia. Dispatchers frequently experience psychological strain due to exposure to traumatic calls, demanding workloads, and inconsistent organizational support. Leadership is a crucial factor in shaping well-being, yet the influence of covenantal empowerment (CE)—a model emphasizing mutual support, shared accountability, and relational trust—on dispatcher mental health remains underexplored. This study examined the relationship between CE and MHQoL, explored gender as a moderator, and considered additional demographic and work-related factors including age, years of experience, work shift, length of shift, marital status, …

The Perceived Effectiveness Of Kotter’S Change Leadership Model In The Knox County Association Of Baptists Churches, Luke England

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to understand the perceived effectiveness of Kotter’s change leadership model in Southern Baptist churches in the Knox County Association of Baptists located in East Tennessee. This phenomenological study utilizes a qualitative research methodology to uncover the perceived effectiveness of Kotter's eight-step change leadership model in Southern Baptist churches in the Knox County Association of Baptists in East Tennessee. This research seeks to understand the five major challenges Senior Pastors believe to be the greatest impairment to instituting change within the local church. Moreover, this research uncovers the perception of pastor’s agreement towards the …

A Qualitative Study Of De-Policing And The 2020 Anti-Police Movement, Corey Lee Piser

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative study is to understand de-policing among police officers in the U.S. state of Minnesota (MN) relative to the 2020 anti-police movement. The theoretical underpinning of this study is rooted in Rational Choice Theory (RCT) and its focus on rational actors engaging in cost-benefit analysis as a behavioral model. RCT serves to capably explain de-policing behavior as a law enforcement officer (LEO) reaction to fears that engaging in self-initiated policing activity has become detrimental to their careers. The research design to be utilized is the generic qualitative method which will utilize officer questionnaires, interviews, and reflexive …

African American Clergywomen's Leadership Experiences In Protestant Churches In Jacksonville, Florida, Felicia M. Simon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

As Christian leaders, African American clergywomen have encountered obstacles and victories while serving in Protestant denominations. However, the challenges of Black women largely reflect those of Black clergywomen. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of African American clergywomen functioning in Christian leadership roles within Protestant churches in Jacksonville, Florida. At this stage in the research, lived experiences were generally defined as the personal, spiritual, professional, and social realities the clergywomen faced as they led congregations, networked with other denominations, and managed environmental factors in ministry. The theory guiding this study was Womanist theory, developed …

The Faculty Advisor's Role In Student Retention And Success: A Case Study From The Student Perspective, Alice Lorraine Buchanan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this collective case study was to understand the role of faculty advisors in student retention of traditional full-time undergraduate students in their final year of study at a four-year university. Guided by Bean’s theoretical model of student attrition, this study examined how organizational interactions influence students’ attitudes, advising satisfaction, and subsequent intent to leave. The Central Research Question was: How do faculty advisors influence student retention for traditional full-time undergraduate students in their final year at a four-year university? The setting was a small, faith-based, highly residential, private university in the Midwestern United States, where faculty advisors …

The Cold War And The Weaponization Of Digital Technology: How The United States Government Partnered With The Private Sector To Create A Technology-Driven Strategy For National Defense, Stephen J. Hoover

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Beginning with the National Security Act of 1947, the study traces the transition from conventional warfare to a sophisticated "Second Offset Strategy" defined by technological superiority. It argues that the Cold War necessitated the maturation of the alliance between the federal government and the private sector, transforming private enterprises into essential strategic partners for Cold War national defense. The research analyzes milestones in this digital shift, including the development of voice communications, air defense, space and nuclear technologies, command and control networks, and the transition from mainframes to microprocessors. Central to this analysis is the role of technology in key …

Comparing Aesthetic And Praxial Approaches To Music Education: Effects On Newark, New Jersey High School Student Achievement And Engagement, Jayson Martinez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Music education plays a vital role in a well-rounded educational framework, supporting the intellectual, emotional, and social development of students. Within this field, two prominent pedagogical approaches are the aesthetic and praxial methodologies. The aesthetic approach emphasizes the intrinsic value and expressive qualities of music, while the praxial approach focuses on music as a form of human activity, integrating practical, social, and contextual dimensions. Educators often aim to enhance students’ musical growth by developing skills and understanding through musical engagement. However, the predominance of one method over another has led to discussions about whether students are receiving a fully comprehensive …

The Effect Of Return-To-Office Mandates On Worker Engagement And Perceived Work-Family Conflict, Caleb M. Daughhetee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this cross-sectional, quasi-experimental study was to examine relationships among employee perceptions of return-to-office (RTO) mandates, employee engagement (EE), and work-family conflict (WFC) among previously remote U.S.-based workers. Despite extensive RTO mandates following the COVID-19 pandemic, limited research has examined the relationship between worker perceptions, EE, and work-family dynamics. Grounded in personal engagement theory (Kahn, 1990), role theory, and the Job Demands-Resources model, this study investigates whether RTO perceptions predict EE and WFC, and whether WFC mediates or moderates the relationship between RTO perceptions and EE. Data were collected from 145 participants using a researcher-developed RTO perception scale …

From Tradition To Transformation: Cultural And Musical Inclusivity In Sda Worship Practices, Alicia Raquel Jones-Lumbuz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines worship inclusivity within multicultural Seventh-day Adventist congregations in the greater Houston, Texas, area, focusing on the experiences of migrants, first-generation Americans, and long-standing members. It highlights how their diverse cultural backgrounds, theological beliefs, and worship expectations shape congregational life. The study fills a gap in Adventist worship scholarship by exploring the lived experiences of worshippers in multicultural settings, particularly the perspectives of migrants whose attitudes toward worship are influenced by cultural heritage and traditional views of reverence. Data were collected through surveys, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and ethnographic observations. Thematic analysis reveals eight interrelated themes, showing that …

The Struggle Is Real: How Black Female Supervisees Navigate Gendered Racial Microaggressions In Cross-Racial Clinical Supervision, Regina S. Rogers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Clinical supervision between White supervisors and Black female supervisees occurs within contexts where power and racial dynamics are salient. Existing research suggests that Black female supervisees are at increased risk of experiencing gendered racial microaggressions due to their marginalized identities; however, limited research has examined how these intersectional stressors are navigated within cross-racial supervision. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of Black female supervisees in cross-racial supervisory dyads, with a focus on how they perceive and navigate gendered racial microaggressions and how these experiences impact psychological well-being, the supervisory working alliance, and professional development. …