Digital Commons Network^™

Assessing Statewide Programming In Wisconsin Environmental Education: The Role Of Culture And Community In Youth Development Programming, Jody Bauer, Robert Justin Hougham, Lily Gruenewald

Journal of Youth Development

Environmental education has the potential to serve as an accessible pathway for diverse learners to improve science achievement, but environmental education (EE) institutions must strive to create spaces that welcome and provide equitable learning outcomes for all students. Embedding cultural and community input, values, and relevancy can be an important component to supporting equity in educational spaces for diverse students. This research aims to identify the status and needs of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across environmental education institutions in the state of Wisconsin, and to identify areas of strength or improvement relating to pedagogy, process, and practice. A survey …

Sport Participation, Academic Engagement, And Well-Being Among Adolescents Impacted By Parental Incarceration, Sarah Kaja, Amy L. Gower Ph.D., Frederique Corcoran, Ingie Osman, Elizabeth Shaver, Samantha J. Adler, Rebecca Shlafer

Journal of Youth Development

Millions of American adolescents have experienced the developmental consequences associated with parental incarceration. Positive youth development activities, including sports team participation, could buffer some of the risks of parental incarceration. Research on sports involvement among adolescents impacted by parental incarceration is scant and suggests their participation may be limited, though a significant body of research among adolescents in general demonstrates sports team participation is associated with better outcomes. We addressed important gaps in research by 1) estimating the prevalence of sports team participation among adolescents impacted by parental incarceration, 2) examining whether sports team participation differed by socioeconomic status in …

High-School-Age Youth Serving As “Emotion Coaches” For Young Children In The Early Grades: A Feasibility Study Of A Cross-Age Approach To Social And Emotional Learning, Amanda Moreno, Maria Kontoudakis, Whitney Davis-Mcintosh, Anita Evans, Olivia Bobbitt

Journal of Youth Development

While the benefits of cross-age programming within youth have been understood for decades, such programs are rarely employed with curricula specific to social and emotional learning (SEL) or with a wide age range between the two groups of youth. This article describes the findings of a pilot implementation and feasibility study of the Emotion Coaches program, which sought to explore whether the conceptual and pragmatic challenges involved in bringing early childhood students (i.e., preschool to second grade) together with adolescent teachers delivering an SEL curriculum could be overcome. Findings from the pilot evaluation suggested that middle-school-age students are likely too …

Promoting Positive Youth Development Through Mentoring In Alternative Education, Tia S. Andersen

Journal of Youth Development

This Program and Practice article provides a comprehensive overview of a university-school mentoring program specifically designed to address the school-to-prison pipeline by supporting youth in a disciplinary alternative school setting. The purpose of this article is to offer a detailed description of the program’s structure, components, and implementation strategies, with the goal of providing practitioners with a replicable model that can be adapted for use in similar school environments. This program matches undergraduate students with high school youth removed from traditional schools due to behavioral or justice-related challenges. Grounded in a strengths-based framework, the intervention incorporates a structured mentor training …

Coaching Life Skills Through Sport: Program Description And Evaluation, Lori Gano-Overway, Sarah Sackett, Robert J. Harmison, Dorian Hayden

Journal of Youth Development

While life skill development opportunities in sport and the coach’s essential role in facilitating the process have received much support, coaches often report they lack the tools and confidence necessary to integrate life skill development strategies into practice. Additionally, while life skill development focused coach education programming exists, few have been formally documented and systematically evaluated for effectiveness. The present study aimed to describe an accessible (online, free, asynchronous) and evidence- informed course while assessing the program’s fidelity and utility using the utilization-focused evaluation model (Patton & Campbell-Patton, 2021). The developed Coaching Life Skills Through Sport (CLSTS) course covers empirically …

Personality And Perceived Police Legitimacy, Yuxuan Yang

Master's Theses

Police legitimacy refers to one’s trust in the police to be fair and make just decisions in their interactions with the public. Individuals’ perceptions of police legitimacy play a crucial role in predicting how they interact with police. More positive perceptions are associated with cooperative behaviors; less favorable views are associated with resisting behaviors. Few studies have examined the relationship of broad personality traits with perceptions of police legitimacy. The current study examined the HEXACO model of personality and right-wing authoritarianism as predictors of perceived police legitimacy among college students (N = 268). While taking gender, race, and social …

Light & Faith: December 2025, Taylor University

Light & Faith

No abstract provided.

Rapid Evidence Review: Terror Incidents And Perceived Terrorism Risks At Events, Tin L. Nguyen, Callie Vitro, Sarah Schappert, Allison E. Munderloh, Erin M. Kearns

Reports, Projects, and Research

Since the 1972 Munich Olympics, mass gatherings for sport, music, and other entertainment have been viewed as highly vulnerable, culturally significant targets for terrorist attacks. Although research on the enactment and implications of terrorism have become more commonplace, comparatively little research has examined terrorism in the context of organized gatherings and the event venues which host them. Through a rapid evidence review, we summarize empirical research on (a) international incidents of terrorism and (b) perceived terrorism risks at large-scale public events and event venues, as well as (c) their psychological, behavioral, and social/news media effects. This research brief is intended …

Red, White-, And Blue-Collar Crime: Federal Sentencing Practices Among White-Collar And Blue-Collar Offenders, Henna Judge

Fordham Law Review

Under the current federal sentencing regime, district courts exercise immense amounts of discretion when sentencing. Though strict adherence to the U.S. Sentencing Commission Guidelines (the “Guidelines”) was once mandatory, courts must now use these Guidelines as an advisory starting point and make a series of fact-specific determinations when sentencing a defendant. Though judicial discretion in this realm aids in preventing undue reliance on Guidelines-range recommendations that can lack nuance, it also invites bias.

In recent years, scholars and courts alike have called attention to a potential disparity in the way blue-collar and white-collar offenders are sentenced. This Note examines relevant …

Globalisasi Hukum Dalam Pluralisme Hukum Modern, Sulistyowati Irianto

The Indonesian Journal of Socio-Legal Studies

This article revisits the concept of legal pluralism, which continues to evolve alongside society and all its complexities. Knowledge of legal pluralism evolves in line with societal changes identified through scientific research and activities. Over the past two decades, developments have drawn attention to the globalisation of law, leading to the concept of modern legal pluralism. The intertwining and mutual influences, as well as the adoptions and reproductions, resulting from encounters between legal systems have become increasingly complex due to the presence of international and transnational law. This is particularly significant in the areas of human rights, democracy, clean governance …

A Cultural Identity Approach To The Generational Divide, Davelle Lee, Andree Hartanto

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Some scholars have argued strongly against the idea that differences between generations are responsible for intergenerational conflict, calling for organisations and policymakers to do away with the notion of generations altogether. The current review argues that generations are an important social identity and makes the case for why generational identity should inform policy, despite inconsistent empirical evidence for generational differences. Drawing on cultural psychology and social identity theory, we find parallels between how racial and ethnic identities shape how people interpret and respond to racial diversity and so-called racial and ethnic “differences”, and how generational identity influences people's attitudes and …

Supporting Career Navigation With An Online Occupational Information-Sharing Platform, Jay W. Rojewski, Janette R. Hill, Eunice Kim, Sejung Kwon, Linda Mccauley, Ikseon Choi

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

Rapid changes to the nature of work and the workplace have shifted responsibility for career success from organizations to individual workers. Successful navigation of one’s career requires a proactive perspective where individuals anticipate training needs and make decisions for achieving both short- and long-term career goals. Relevant and accurate occupational information is an essential component of career success; yet few sources of reliable and targeted information exist for adult workers. This article provides a conceptual overview of an online system (eMPACT) that provides personalized occupational information for selected health care professionals. The contributions and benefits of key stakeholders—employees, trainers, employers—in …

Reported Value Of Culturally Responsive Teaching Practices Of Virginia Agricultural Education Teachers, Natalie K. Ferand, Kendrick Spencer, Bradley Bowen

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

To address the increasing diversity in schools and the monolithic culture of teachers, researchers have called for pedagogies that reflect the diverse and pluralistic identities of students. While core academic areas have long adopted culturally relevant pedagogy, school-based agricultural education (SBAE) has lagged behind. This study aimed to determine the views of agricultural education teachers in Virginia on culturally responsive pedagogy dispositions and identify areas of professional development need. Teachers valued the differences among students and the communities in which their schools are located. However, results revealed a need for professional development in using the local community as a resource …

Debating Empire: The Yucatan Crisis And The Political Aftermath Of The Mexican-American War, Colton Matthew Warnes

Theses

This study examines the impact of the Caste War of Yucatán had on the geopolitical relationship between the United States and Mexico in the aftermath of the Mexican-American War. The briefly independent Republic of Yucatán requested foreign intervention to end the Caste War. The United States debated intervention in Yucatán, while Mexico, still reeling from the loss of the Mexican-American War and dealing with internal political conflict, made steps to reincorporate Yucatán back into Mexico and to diplomatically resist American expansion. Examining the political landscape of the United States and Mexico in the spring of 1848 offers an alternate perspective …

The Silent Sound Of Drowning: Human Rights Justifications And Complex Intersectionality, Maria Grahn-Farley

Brooklyn Journal of International Law

This Article presents a new concept, “Human Rights Justifications,” which captures instances in which states invoke human rights to defend and legitimize their own actions. Human Rights Justifications stand in contrast to cases in which human rights are activated by an individual holding the state accountable for its actions. The difference between when a state and when an individual is the activating subject is that with the former, human rights risk serving the state in legitimizing its actions, instead of serving the individual as a protection from the state. This occurs because, when the state activates human rights, it also …

Adoption Of The 4-H Thriving Model Of Positive Youth Development:A Case-Centered Examination Of 4-H Agents, Patricia Whitener

All Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Youth development professionals working in non-formal educational settings face the persistent challenge of translating evidence-based frameworks into effective practice. This explanatory sequential mixed-methods study examines how South Carolina 4-H agent/educators perceive and adopt the 4-H Thriving Model following mandatory statewide training. The study investigates the roles of professional identity, change readiness, and organizational factors in shaping innovation adoption decisions among Extension professionals who work with considerable autonomy within diverse community contexts.

The 4-H Thriving Model represents a comprehensive theory of change that connects program practices to the developmental processes that influence youth outcomes (Arnold and Gagnon, 2019). The model …

The Life Significance Of Summer Outdoor Program Employment During Emerging Adulthood, Austin M. Souto

All Dissertations

Seasonal employment in outdoor programs—encompassing camps, guiding services, and similar organizations—plays a vital role in delivering structured outdoor experiences, yet little research has explored its enduring effects on staff over the course of their lives. This dissertation examined the long-term significance and influence of seasonal outdoor work during emerging adulthood. Guided by Significant Life Experience and Life Course Theory, an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design was used. In the qualitative phase, interviews revealed that seasonal work influenced life trajectories by contributing to identity formation, career discovery, ways of relating to others, and the navigation of trade-offs. Seven mechanisms—opportunities for growth, connection …

Redefining The Script: Autonomy, Agency And Advocacy Among Black Women Educators, Racquel Plummer

All Dissertations

ABSTRACT

This qualitative study examines how Black women educators working with scripted curricula exercise autonomy, agency, and advocacy in elementary school contexts. Guided by interpretive phenomenology, the inquiry centers on lived experience and meaning-making. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with ten educators, supplemented by reflexive journaling, member checking, and peer debriefing to enhance the trustworthiness of the findings. Analysis used iterative, thematic methods within a hermeneutic circle.

Two questions shaped the design. What beliefs and perceptions do Black women educators hold about autonomy, agency, and advocacy in scripted classrooms? How do they negotiate professional identity and role within mandates? …

Mountain Communities During A Time Of War: A Case Study Of The Hutsul Region In The Carpathian Mountains Of Ukraine, Pavlo Rybaruk

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the ethno-ecological technologies employed by the Hutsul people within the highland agrarian economy of the Carpathian Mountains. Over centuries, the Hutsuls have developed ethno-ecological technologies that maintain ecological integrity while supporting community livelihoods.

The study addresses three primary research questions: What are the most important ethno-ecological technologies of the Hutsul highland economy? How might these traditional ethno-ecological practices be applied to economic, agricultural, and tourism development in the Hutsul region? How might these traditional ethno-ecological practices be combined with contemporary approaches to encourage sustainable development in the region?

The research explores the devastating impact of the Russian …

Operation Paperclip And The Use Of National Security: Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum, Kirsten Hawkins

War, Diplomacy, and Society (MA) Theses

National security is a term that many are familiar with in the twenty-first century. In the United States it is commonly believed that its widespread use began after the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York on September 11, 2001. However, this work examines how the United States government has used the term and changed its definition in its application during Operation Paperclip. Operation Paperclip was a Second World War operation created to secure the scientific and technical research of German scientists at the end of the war in 1945.

This thesis examines Operation Paperclip and its expansion …

Human Capital, Immigration, And Growth: A State-Level Dynamic Panel Study, William R. Cooper

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

This study examines whether who immigrates, rather than how many, matters for state economic growth in the United States. It integrates a policy-relevant proxy for skill (H-1B approvals) into an augmented Solow framework that separates immigration's quantity channel from its human capital channel and estimates dynamic effects in a balanced quarterly panel of 50 states (2010 to 2023 ). The empirical strategy estimates a two-step difference GMM Arellano-Bond model that reinforces identification using a double/debiased machine learning (DML) variant that orthogonalizes high-dimensional nuisance components via cross-fitting. This design targets the distinct roles of immigrant headcount versus skill in per capita …

Updated Prevalence Estimates Of Obesity Among Adults In The United States, 2005–2018, Ashley W. Kranjac, Dinko Kranjac

Sociology Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction

Body mass index is an imperfect measure of excess adiposity but is ingrained in both research and clinical practice to define and diagnose adult obesity. The addition of waist circumference measure is recommended to fully capture obesity-related health risks at a population level. The latest reframing of obesity by the Lancet Commission relies on body mass index and waist circumference, as well as organ dysfunction and functional limitations, to differentiate between preclinical and clinical obesity.

Methods

Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005–2018), we adhere to the proposed redefinition to examine obesity trends in the …

Presumption Of Creditworthiness, Nakita Q. Cuttino

Michigan Law Review

Creditworthiness, or the likelihood that one will repay one’s debts, is typically signaled through a three-digit number known as a credit score. Yet, over thirty-two million adult-aged consumers lack adequate consumer credit reports and therefore do not have a traditional credit score. As a result of being unscored, these consumers are generally presumed uncreditworthy and foreclosed from mainstream credit markets. Unscored consumers are often relegated to extractive, fringe credit markets that neither require nor build credit scores. More insidiously, however, a growing number of non-credit contexts, including rental housing, utility services, and employment markets, look to creditworthiness to determine eligibility …

Front Matter, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Front Matter for Volume 124, Issue 3 of Michigan Law Review

Accelerating Relationship Discovery In Chronic Lower Back Pain Through Knowledge Graph And Ontology Enhanced Large Language Models, Damon Lin

Master's Theses

Chronic lower back pain (cLBP) is a widespread public health burden linked to anxiety, depression, and opioid addiction. Interventions aimed at treating cLBP have shown minimal improvements in pain outcomes, leading researchers to reexamine our understanding of cLBP through constructing a causal model. However, constructing causal models through Randomized Controlled Trials are often unfeasible, and relying on domain expertise requires extensive and time-consuming research, posing a serious bottleneck for designing effective treatments. To accelerate this process, we apply Knowledge Graphs, Ontologies, and Large Language Models (LLMs) to aid researchers in determining possible causal relationships. First, we demonstrate how LLMs can …

Predicting Newsworthiness Of California Bill Discussions, Venkata Kedarnath Chaturvedula

Master's Theses

Among various California bill hearings, it is crucial to identify which hearings are most likely to receive media coverage, as this highlights the importance of the bill and the hearing, while also underscoring its societal impact. Digital Democracy, established at Cal Poly’s Institute for Advanced Technology and Public Policy, provides users access to a distinctive dataset and information about state legislative committee hearings, hearing transcripts, assets, bill information, etc.

This thesis presents a machine learning framework for predicting whether California legislative bills are likely to receive media coverage. Drawing on a dataset of legislative ”tip sheets” provided by Digital Democracy …

Is Military Service A Social Mobility Mechanism? Military Participation And Socioeconomic Benefits—Recommended Research And Data Resources, Corri Zoli, Linda Euto, Rosalinda Maury

The Lender Center for Social Justice

This research brief shares research and data resources that examine how military participation, particularly professional training and education, function as mechanisms for social mobility, leading to higher socioeconomic advantages among U.S. military members and veterans, including minorities.

Bilingualism Matters: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of California Language Policy, Benjamin V. Roath

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

In June 1998, California voters passed Proposition 227, a ballot initiative mandating that all public school instruction be conducted in English, with over 61% approval. This policy imposed additional challenges on students with limited English proficiency (LEP), many of whom are immigrants or children of immigrants. At the margins of these political and educational agendas lies the issue of bilingual education. This study examines the role of bilingual education in multilingual contexts and critiques the continued reliance on monolingual frameworks that marginalize linguistic diversity. Focusing on Proposition 227 (1998) and its repeal through Proposition 58 (2016), the research explores shifting …

Predictors Of Math Identity In U.S. High School Students, Edwin Flores

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study explored factors related to high school students’ sense of math identity. Data from the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 was used which is a nationally representative dataset from the National Center of Education Statistics (NCES). The sample is representative of U.S. high schoolers who began ninth grade in 2009. Multiple regression analysis was performed and factors relating to students’ prior mathematics coursework and attitudes about mathematics were found to predict students’ mathematics identity.

Keywords. Mathematics, identity, high school students

Silent Cries: Analyzing The Psychological Profiles Of High School Shooters, Kayla N. Martinez

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

Over the past two decades, school shootings have increased in frequency and severity in the United States, leaving schools, families, and communities with long-lasting trauma. Despite experiencing school shootings for more than 20 years, protocols put in place regarding school shootings seem to only be reactive rather than proactively identifying and preventing the occurrence. The purpose of this thesis was to analyze behavioral patterns high school shooters tend to exhibit using multiple factors and propose potential preventative strategies to reduce the number of incidents. This study relies on secondary data analysis in which behavioral, mental, and environmental factors were examined …