Digital Commons Network^™

Sexisms And Gender-Washing In Australian Academia: Public Front, Private Realities, Jacqueline Ullman, Emily Gray, Mindy Blaise, Lucy Hobby

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper offers an analysis of selected survey findings from a mixed methods research project, entitled Understanding and Addressing Everyday Sexisms in Australian Universities. The project is situated within the context of the negative impact of gender-based discrimination upon the higher education sector in Australia and internationally. The findings discussed in this paper relate to quantitative analyses of selected items from a national survey of over 1200 Australian academics, recruited through 12 public universities. In this paper, the ways in which different participant groups responded to items designed to explore their attitudes towards sexism in the academic workplace, both broadly …

The Nurse's Role In Curative-To-Palliative Transitions In Advanced Cancer: A Theory Synthesis Using Turner's Method, Geya George, Deborah Kirk, Davina Porock

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: This paper aims to explain the process of formulating a robust theory that comprehensively explains the nurse's role during the transition from curative to the palliative phase in advanced cancer care. Design: A qualitative theory synthesis approach was applied, utilising Turner's 9-step theory synthesis method to integrate five grounded theories and 10 qualitative studies. The Walker and Avant method of concept development and analysis further ensured rigour. Methods: Turner's theory synthesis was used to formulate a more comprehensive, testable theory from five existing grounded theories and 10 other qualitative studies that explain the nurse's role in supporting and facilitating …

Crafting The Inspirational Teacher: Governing Through Affect As Policy Response To Teacher Recruitment In Australia, Saul Karnovsky, Brad Gobby, George Variyan, Andrew W. Wilkins, Antonio Olmedo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

As policymakers address a teacher attrition crisis, this paper examines how the Australian policy response mobilises affect to address and manage teacher recruitment. Drawing on affect theory and governmentality, we analyse a case study–the Australian Government’s Be That Teacher campaign–as a policy instrument that seeks to cultivate among would-be-teachers desirable feelings and aspirations aligned with state priorities. Our analysis shows how a sentimental and idealised figure of the ‘inspirational’ teacher is mobilised as a form of affective governmentality through two interconnected dynamics: (1) the construction of teaching as emotionally fulfilling and morally meaningful work through narratives of inspiration, care, and …

Early-Life Pathways To Inequalities In Child Mental Health: Evidence From Eight Birth Cohorts, Demetris Avraam, Gabriella Melis, Tim Cadman, Jennie Carson, Marie Aline Charles, Yu Wei Chua, Ahmed Elhakeem, Joaquín Escribano, Veit Grote, Dariusz Gruszfeld, Kathrin Guerlich, Rae-Chi Huang, Jennifer R. Harris, Jesus Ibarluzea, Jordi Julvez, Berthold Koletzko, Ashleigh Lin, Unai Martin, Rosemary Mceachan, Maria Melchior, Phillip Melton, Johanna Thorbjornsrud Nader, Angela Pinot De Moira, Maja Popovic, Simona Porru, Lorenzo Richiardi, Blanca Sarzo, Daniela Schlüter, Jordi Sunyer, Morris Swertz, Elvira Verduci, John Wright, Annick Xhonneux, Tiffany Yang, Daniela Zugna, Anne-Marie Nybo Andersen, Katrine Strandberg-Larsen, David Taylor-Robinson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Socioeconomic inequalities in children's emotional and behavioural problems are already present at school entry. We examined associations between early-life socioeconomic conditions and children's externalising and internalising problems and assessed whether early-life risk factors mediated these associations.

Methods: We analysed harmonised individual participant data from eight birth cohorts within the EU Child Cohort Network. Maternal educational level during pregnancy was used as an indicator of early-life socioeconomic conditions (SECs). Scores of children's externalising and internalising problems around school entry age were used as the outcome variables. Inequalities were quantified using the Slope Index of Inequality which captures the difference in …

Community Attitudes Towards Voluntary Assisted Dying: Beyond Endorsed Eligibilities, Eyal Gringart, Craig Phillips, Deirdre Drake

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Voluntary assisted dying (VAD) has been established across seven of Australia’s eight states and territories, yet empirical research on public attitudes remains limited. The current study examined Australians’ attitudes towards VAD. A cross-sectional online survey assessed affective, behavioural, and cognitive components, as well as overall attitudes, with 704 Australian adults. Attitudes were broadly supportive of VAD but conditional. Most participants endorsed end-of-life choices, legalisation of VAD, and access to VAD in cases of physical illness, and opposed availability for those with mental illness, and existential suffering. Participants with religious affiliations held significantly less favourable attitudes. Females and those with experience …

When The Panic Sets In: Ai-Proofing As Pedagogical Violence In Social Work Education, Norah Hosken, Susan Bailey

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Universities’ rushed responses to generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) constitute pedagogical violence against students and educators in social work programs. Drawing on Matusov and Sullivan’s pedagogical violence framework and Bourdieu’s symbolic violence, we examine how institutional mandates to ‘AI-proof’ assessments contradict core social work values while inflicting systematic harm. AI-proofing policies impose time-limited assessments disadvantaging disabled students and those with caring responsibilities, deploy surveillance technologies that discriminate against non-native English speakers, demand unsustainable workload increases from burned-out educators, and dismantle scaffolded pedagogy aligned with how social workers learn to practise. Using collaborative autoethnography, we document our experiences across Australian universities and …

Between Guidelines And Guilt: Parenting Through The Chaos Of Screen-Time Discourse, Stephanie C. Milford

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Digital parenting today is shaped by shifting guidelines, moralised discourse, and often unstable institutional advice, leaving families navigating uncertainty without meaningful support. Drawing on governmentality theory and media studies, this piece examines how screentime discourse can position parents as primarily responsible for risks that are in part, produced by systems outside the home. Using the Australian policy reversal on YouTube as a case study, it highlights how inconsistent guidance can erode parental confidence and at times sustain cycles of shame and surveillance. Rather than consistently addressing structural factors such as platform design and algorithmic amplification, media and policy narratives displace …

Overview Of Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Health Status 2025, Australian Indigenous Healthinfonet

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This Overview provides a summary of the most recent indicators of the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (of all ages, where data are available). The topics included in the Overview cover chronic health conditions which are featured on the HealthInfoNet website. Over the years as additional funding has been obtained and in consultation with HealthInfoNet networks, more topics have been covered on the website and are now included in the Overview. The topics aim to reflect the status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health over this period and going forward.

Factors Affecting Dating Violence In Adolescence, Madison Darrah

Graduate Research Papers

Prior research has named many risk and protective factors associated with adolescent dating violence (ADV). However, comparatively little research has examined how substance use intersects with these risk and protective factors or how effective interventions can be designed to address both issues of substance use and ADV simultaneously. The purpose of the current study is to examine the relationship between substance use and ADV, with a particular focus on perpetration of ADV during adolescence. This literature review synthesizes existing research to identify factors associated with ADV, evaluate theoretical frameworks that explain ADV, and examine how substance use contributes to ADV …

Netflix And Feel: Cultivating Fandom And Identity Through Sports Docuseries, Jessica L. Payne

Faculty Publications - Communications

This work investigated how parasocial relationships (PSRs), audience behaviors, and sports docuseries consumption jointly shape today’s sports fandom. The research utilized a combination of social identity theory (SIT) with PSR, conducting a survey of 277 participants to test a moderated mediation model (Hayes PROCESS Model 7). This model examined the relationships between PSRs, docuseries consumption, fandom, and behavioral engagement outcomes such as intent to recommend, cross-platform engagement, multi-platform viewing habits and brand engagement, live engagement and event intentions, intent to continue viewing, and fan conversion. This research contributed to SIT by demonstrating how streaming platforms and docuseries offer a different …

Preservice Teachers’ Perceptions Of Ai- And Human-Generated Feedback On Lesson Plans, Gui Ying Annie Yang-Heim, Xi Lin

Faculty Publications - College of Education

This study examines the role of AI peer reviewers in evaluating preservice teachers’ guided reading lesson plans at a U.S. university. A quasi-experimental design compared two groups: one receiving traditional human peer reviews and another using ChatGPT as a peer reviewer. Data sources included peer review reports and student survey responses. Grounded in the Zone of Proximal Development and effective feedback literature, the study investigates how AI feedback influences critical thinking and engagement during lesson planning. It also explores preservice teachers’ attitudes toward AI versus human feedback. The findings demonstrate both the advantages and disadvantages of AI-generated feedback which provides …

Building A Digital Altar For The Justice-Centered Torch-Bearers: The Role Of Digital Networks In Supporting Contemporary Racial Justice Activists Through Contemplative Practices, Renée L. Bradford

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This mixed-methods study aimed to identify factors critical in building a digital support network employing contemplative practices to support activists engaging in racial justice work in the United States. The research question that guided this study was: What factors do racial justice activists regard as critical in building a digital support network employing contemplative practices? The study’s importance lies in addressing the evolving landscape of digital activism while honoring the spiritual and relational foundations that have historically sustained social justice movements, particularly as contemporary activists navigate new technological tools while seeking to maintain authentic connection and contemplative grounding. Key findings …

Righteous Defenders And Evil Challengers: The Morally Polarized Battle For Books On Reddit, Erika Casburn

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The issue of book bans has moved to the forefront of public and political debate over the past few years. Anti-censorship advocates who defend against these challenges have yet to be studied. The purpose of this study was to examine the beliefs and worldviews as expressed by those defenders in a public forum—Reddit. Data in the form of Reddit threads was collected from subreddits belonging to states that have seen the greatest number of book challenges. This data was subjected to discourse analysis, first manually, then by qualitative analysis software (MAXQDA). Analysis revealed that defenders spent a majority of discursive …

Feeling Seen By Being Heard: A Constructivist Critical Incident Study Of The Listening Experiences Of Ciswomen Of Color For The Development Of An Inclusive Listening Praxis For Leaders, Christina Zhong-Wen Chang

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study examines how listening shapes inclusive workplaces by exploring the listening experiences of 23 professional cisgender women of color working in predominantly white institutional spaces. Although listening is a fundamental part of communication, it is frequently undervalued and overlooked in leadership literature. Using the constructivist critical incident technique (CCIT) methodology, the research analyzed 88 significant moments when participants felt distinctly heard or unheard by leaders. Findings reveal that listening operated as a relational practice signaling respect, affirmation of voice, and anchoring leadership in accountability, while enabling leaders to engage perspectives beyond their own. Four listening types emerged: Listening Withheld, …

We’Re The Aunties Now: Intersections Of Mourning Practices, Intergenerational Trauma, And Matrilineal Responsibility In Oneida Life, Marena Bridges

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation examines how Oneida and broader Haudenosaunee mourning practices, as I have lived and understood them, shape grief, healing, and matrilineal responsibility in my family. Using Indigenous autoethnography and storywork, I first present a crafted narrative, then return to that narrative through reflexive thematic analysis. The analysis identifies patterned meanings in how grief is structured, shared, and carried across closely stacked deaths in the maternal line. Mourning practices function as community infrastructure that organizes time, redistributes labor, transmits knowledge, and sustains continuing bonds with the dead. At the same time, repeated loss produces a form of matriarchal ascension, concentrating …

Between Self, Family, And Becoming: Mindfulness And The Transition Experiences Of Latinx Clinical Counseling Graduate Students, Orlando R. Alvarez

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Latinx graduate students transitioning into their first semester of clinical counseling master’s programs often navigate substantial challenges as they embark on their academic journeys. While transitions into any new role can be difficult, the changes that accompany the beginning of a graduate program have been associated with increased role and identity strain, anxiety, depression, and feelings of fraudulence and imposterism, negatively impacting student success, performance, and attrition rates (Halladay et al., 2019; Murphy, 2021; Vidic & Cherup, 2019). Although mindfulness practices provide benefits for graduate student wellbeing, there is no current scholarship that has examined how mindfulness practices support Latinx …

The Lived Experience Of Tenders Of Community Grief Rituals, Margaret Y. Wilson

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The purpose of this research study is to gain an understanding of the lived experience of tenders of community grief rituals, and how tenders make meaning of their experiences. This study utilized photo elicitation and a reflexive thematic analysis. Participants (N = 11) provided one to three photographs that captured their experience of grief and/or tending grief rituals. The results identified 10 themes supported by subthemes: (a) Grief Tender Wisdom About the Nature of Grief, (b) Life’s Many Experiences are Sources of Grief, (c) The Multifaceted Impacts of Grief-Body, Anger, Compassion, Empathy, Resilience, Gratitude, Joy, and Love, (d) The Nuances …

Interpersonal Reckoning: The Liminal Space Between Rupture And Repair In Counselor Education, Phoenix E. Rosewood

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The purpose of this study is to understand and explore the phenomenon of the rupture, reckoning, and when possible, the repair process with racial, ethnic, and cultural (REC) microaggressions in counselor education. Participants (n = 14) included counselor educators who had either enacted a REC microaggression and attempted repair, or had been the recipient of an REC rupture and a meaningful attempt at repair. This study utilized a thematic analysis as a methodological framework in interpreting the data with the perspective of borderlands theory, critical embodied phenomenology, relational cultural theory and relational neuroscience analytical frameworks to account for and explain …

Navigating Family, Culture, And Well-Being: A Qualitative Study Of First-Generation Adult Children Of Middle Eastern Immigrants In The United States, Ramona Amely

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The purpose of this study is to explore the lived experiences of first-generation adult children of Middle Eastern immigrant parents/caregivers living in the United States. This was a phenomenological study with reflexive thematic analysis. Participants (N=10) were interviewed via Zoom, and transcripts were analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA). The results included four themes: (1) Migration Contact and Cultural Formation, (2) Bicultural Identity Development, (3) Family System Adaptation, and (4) Emotional Socialization and Psychological Impact. This study highlights how first-generation adult children of Middle Eastern immigrants navigate complex, interwoven processes of bicultural identity development, family adaptation, and emotional socialization shaped …

The Effect Of Paternal Engagement On The Sexual Self-Concept Of Black Female Adolescents, Amelia Flynn

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Black women in the U.S. continue to experience disproportionately high rates of unintended pregnancies, with a 64% rate reported in 2011 (Finer & Zolna, 2016). Positive sexual self-concept (SSC) is linked to healthier sexual behaviors, yet research on SSC development has largely overlooked the role of fathers and systemic influences, particularly within Black families. Grounded in an ecological framework, this study examines the impact of father-daughter engagement on SSC among Black female adolescents, considering paternal residential status and socioeconomic class as key contextual factors. The study revealed that when middle class father-daughter engagement is high, daughters’ sexual self-esteem is lower. …

A Qualitative Study Of Existential Paralysis As A Pathway To Meaning And Purpose Among Generation Z, Oksana V. Panchenko

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study examines the lived experiences of emerging adults from Generation Z (N = 26) with a qualitative reflexive thematic analysis. Data was collected with an online survey and open ended prompts. Twelve themes were identified as part of data analysis: (1) Feeling Lost, Immobilized, Isolated and Overthinking, (2) Feeling Depressed and Experiencing Identity Erosion and Functional Disruption, (3) Anxiety, the Struggle for Authentic Connection, and Fear About the Future, (4) Social Media, Comparison, and Fear of Missing Out, (5) Cultural and Sociopolitical Pressures on Self-Expression, (6) Ambiguous Loss and Disconnection in Social Presence, (7) Social Skills, Self-Confidence, and Adaptation …

Equity Is Rural, Too: Critical Exploration Of Educational Equity In Predominantly White Communities, Lydia Cochrane

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Education reform has fallen short of providing a truly equitable education for all students. Schools will continue to fail their students with marginalized identities if they do not interrogate existing power dynamics.  This study examines how educators in predominantly White rural communities define and recognize educational equity, focusing on understanding the unique factors of rural life that shape these perceptions. Despite a history of low achievement and systemic inequities in both urban and rural school systems, rural communities, often overlooked in educational research, remain underexplored in discussions about equity. Existing literature frames inequities primarily through an urban lens, reinforcing misconceptions …

Do You See What I Hear?: The Effects Of Musical Harmony On Cultural Perception And Recognition, Marvin Martin Williams

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study explores whether listeners can identify the differences in harmonic progressions in a musical composition, and, if so, whether those differences can elicit a cultural or social perception of the origins of the music. By investigating how audiences respond to variations in harmony, specifically traditional versus altered harmonic treatments, the research offers a framework for music producers, educators, healthcare providers, and other cultural gatekeepers to better understand and engage with audiences on an empathetic and meaningful level. The underlying hypothesis posits that harmony in music does more than evoke emotion but may inform a cultural interpretation, thus presenting an …

The Phenomenon Of Church Growth Through Authenticity: How African American Gen Z Christians Are Sharing The Gospel Of Jesus Christ Without The Program Structure Of The Black Baptist Church, Devin E. West

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation examines the perspectives of Black Generation Z Christians regarding factors within the Black Baptist church that may limit their full engagement. In this study, the Black Baptist church refers to congregations with predominantly Black membership led by Black pastors. Generation Z, born between 1997 and 2012, is forming its religious identity within a rapidly changing cultural and institutional environment. Historically, the Black Church has served as a central institution in African American communities, functioning as a place of worship as well as a source of social support, leadership development, identity formation, and justice advocacy (Lincoln & Mamiya, 1990). …

Octavia E. Butler's Healing Heroines: An Exploration Of Black Girl Magic In The Patternist Series, Monique Skinner

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study explores the concept of healing as Black Girl Magic in the five novels that make up Octavia E. Butler’s Patternist series. Through textual analysis backed in Afrofuturist theory the study answers the questions: How does Butler depict Black women as healers in the Patternist series? and What is her vision of Black women in the Afrofuture? On a deeper level, the study uses character analysis to examine the literary trope of the Black woman healer and how her magical power translates as literal Black Girl Magic. Through a journey of speculative literary discovery, we uncover the archetypes of …

A Content Analysis Of Black Women's Race And Gender Depiction In American History Textbooks, Le'marqunita De'sharay Lowe

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Using a race and gender analytical lens, this research study examined how Black women were depicted in four secondary Advanced Placement Pearson’s history textbooks. Content analysis was the methodology to collect data from Pearson’s Advanced Placement history textbooks. Captions and images were analyzed to observe the patterns and themes that displayed the intersection between Black women's race and gender depiction. The interdisciplinary fields of history and education allowed an in-depth analysis of race and gender to be conducted throughout this research study. Two research questions were answered throughout this study. What do captions and images teach about the race and …

Approaching Social Cohesion And Social Progress From A Systems Perspective: A Mixed Methods Analysis Of The Canadian Multiculturalism Act, Melissa Kimmel

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Social cohesion plays an important role in supporting stable, equitable, and resilient societies. Growing social division and polarization have weakened collective trust and challenged progress in many nations. Understanding how social cohesion can be strengthened has become increasingly important as societies face rising inequality, political partisanship, and declining institutional legitimacy. This study examines how social cohesion can function as a systemic driver of social progress through the example of Canada’s Multiculturalism Act. The Act provides a lens for understanding how national policy can serve as a way to strengthen inclusion, equality, and belonging within diverse societies. This study utilizes a …

She Leads: A Phenomenological Study Of Women's Leadership Experiences In Nonprofit Organizations, Trisha W. Lee

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Women comprise a significant portion of the nonprofit sector workforce but are underrepresented in leadership, particularly among executives in larger revenue nonprofit organizations (NPOs). This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of women who led large, local NPOs (those with annual revenues between $1 million and $5 million) in Ohio. Addressing a gap in understanding the intersection of gender and leadership in large revenue NPOs, this research compared women who were founders of their NPOs with women who ascended to leadership in established organizations. Did founding one’s own NPO provide an advantage in leading it once it grew? How did …

From Margin To Mandate: Examining Community Development Strategies That Support Black Lgbtq+ Youth Experiencing Homelessness, Martel Okonji

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Black LGBTQ+ transitional-aged youth (TAY) experiencing homelessness navigate intersecting systems of marginalization that shape their access to safety and stability. While community development organizations play a critical role in addressing these inequities, limited research examines how these strategies are implemented. This study explored how a community development organization supports Black LGBTQ+ TAY experiencing homelessness. Using a qualitative single case study design, data was collected through semi-structured interviews with leadership, staff, and youth, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Grounded in community development theory and ethical leadership, the study examined how organizational practices shape outcomes. Findings revealed an affirming, relational approach centered …

Digital Griots Playing Lottery Tickets: A Study Of Hip Hop And Social Transformation In Ghana's #Fixthecountry Movement, Jaime M. Kowlessar

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

On June 28, 2021, activist Ibrahim Mohammed (Macho Kaaka) was murdered in Ejura, Ghana, after using social media to criticize government failures. When protesters demanding justice were shot by security forces, politically engaged Ghanaian hip hop artists refused silence, contributing to Ghana’s #FixTheCountry movement—the nation’s largest youth mobilization in a generation. Yet scholarly debates about how hip hop contributes to social change remain unresolved, divided between those celebrating its activist potential and those critiquing its limitations. This dissertation introduces the lottery ticket theory as an alternative framework for understanding cultural activism’s relationship to political transformation. Rather than asking whether hip …