Digital Commons Network^™

Quantifying Overconsumption In The United States: A Multiple Linear Regression Analysis, Morgan Davis

Honors Projects

This study examines overconsumption in the United States by analyzing how socioeconomic factors influence household spending relative to income. Overconsumption is defined as elevated discretionary spending relative to income, with a focus on categories such as apparel, entertainment, and food away from home. Using 2024 Consumer Expenditure Survey (CEX) data, three multiple linear regression models were created to evaluate predictors of overall consumption, discretionary consumption, and apparel spending as proportions of income.

Results show that income is the most significant predictor across all models, with higher-income households consistently spending a smaller share of their income. Age and household size also …

Moral Emotions Within The Habituation Of Virtue, Hannah Starr Grubbs-Oechsle

Dissertations (1934 -)

In this dissertation, I examine how moral emotions feature within the habituation of virtues. I suggest that their primary role within the moral life is epistemic: emotions grant agents perceptual access to evaluative properties in the world. I argue that their perceptual function within habit formation is normatively indispensable. I proceed through five methodological movements. I begin by presenting the three historical accounts of emotion I take as most influential on contemporary Western beliefs about emotion and as most dominant within the philosophy of emotion. To that end, I trace Stoic and Kantian accounts of emotion as representative of the …

Ghosts Of The Shelves: A Sequential Quantitative Study Of Book Banning And Libricide In The United States, Gregory A. Wadsworth

Doctoral Works at the University of New Haven

The United States is entrenched in a new era of censorship and libricide, characterized by unprecedentedly high rates of book banning, legislatively mandated restriction, and the disproportionate censoring of works authored by and prominently showcasing sexual and racial minorities. This ongoing perpetration of libricide, the prolific characterization of literature as a cultivator, and the societal structure which manifests and promotes literary restriction has thus far received little empirical attention. The current study represents a sequential quantitative study of book banning and libricide in the United States. Mirroring Gerbner’s (1998) method for establishing cultivation effects, the present study (1) utilized open-source …

Using Multiple Means Of Representation To Enhance Higher Education Student Learning, Cathy Stephens

Staff Scholarship - Australia & Dubai

Today’s students enter higher education from diverse backgrounds with differing educational pathways. Universal design for learning recognises that learners are not homogenous and suggests ways of improving engagement, understanding and agency for heterogeneous learners by including varied resource formats and instructional approaches, or multiple means of representation. While institutional imperatives often call for consistency of approaches and pre-designed content formats, this small pilot study asks if the implementation of varied resources and activities can enhance student comprehension and understanding of project requirements in a creative course. This small-scale study surveyed students on the perceived value of a variety of resources, …

Artificial Intelligence In Dental And Orthopedic Skeletal Imaging: A Scoping Review Of Methodological Convergence And Translational Gaps, Man Hung, Isabella Strickler, Annabella Jensen, Bayler Gunnell, Alicia Parry, Samuel Dyal, Martin S. Lipsky

Institute on Aging Publications

This scoping review aimed to answer the question: to what extent do artificial intelligence applications in dental and orthopedic skeletal imaging demonstrate true cross-disciplinary methodological convergence versus parallel development with shared translational barriers? This scoping review synthesizes AI applications across both fields to characterize methodological overlap, developmental asymmetries, and translational gaps, rather than assuming convergence. Following the PRISMA-ScR reporting standards, we searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, and EMBASE for peer-reviewed, English-language human studies published between January 2015 and May 2025. Eligible studies applied AI, machine learning, or deep learning to diagnostic, segmentation, or preoperative planning tasks in …

Supporting Teachers With Student’S Challenging Behavior: A Social Emotion Learning Approach, Sarah Holtzlander

Masters Projects

Challenging classroom behaviors in early childhood and elementary settings are often linked to deficits in students’ social-emotional skills, including emotional regulation, social awareness, and problem-solving. These behaviors can disrupt instruction, impact peer relationships, and contribute to increased teacher stress and reliance on reactive discipline practices. Although research strongly supports the effectiveness of social-emotional learning (SEL) as a preventive and skill-based approach, many educators report limited training and a lack of practical resources for implementation. The purpose of this project is to develop a comprehensive, teacher-friendly SEL toolkit designed to support the integration of evidence-based strategies into daily classroom routines. Grounded …

A Trauma Psychology Approach To Space Psychology And Long-Duration Space Travel In Consideration Of Isolation, Resource Scarcity, And Group Dynamics., Alden Nicoll

Honors Projects

As modern societies research and prepare for long-duration deep space travel, psychological research becomes increasingly prevalent into understanding the effects of trauma on the psyche. This present study looks at the current research outcomes of “Team Dynamics”, “Social Isolation”, and “Resource Scarcity” within the literature of Space Psychology. Current research on social isolation is taken from past missions in outer space and analog missions in Antarctica, at sea, and prison research. While research is vast on social isolation, it doesn’t consider how trauma could be intensified with both time and duration in space. Next, when considering team dynamics and how …

"Principle Before Party": Samuel "Golden Rule" Jones And The 1899 Ohio Gubernatorial Election, Connor Hand

Honors Projects

As partisan loyalty declined and resentment grew against American social, political, and economic conditions at the end of the nineteenth century, political reformers saw an opportunity to spread their ideals for a better society. Most reformers opted against running for office, and those who did often used standard or newly formed political parties. Mayor of Toledo and progressive businessman Samuel Jones differed from the standard reformer by seeking office while embracing a non-partisan ideology. By analyzing Jones’ writings, the partisan response to his movement, and contextualizing him amongst reformers, this essay explores how Jones stood out from the standard political …

Human Service Professionals’ Perceptions Culturally Competent Resources For Transracial Adoption, Rachelle Tau-Stewart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Transracial adoption continues to increase in the United States, particularly in states with predominantly White populations; yet, culturally competent preparation and postadoption resources remain limited. The lack of structured cultural socialization and race-responsive supports places transracially adopted youth at increased risk for identity disruption, mental health challenges, and experiences of racism and microaggressions. The purpose of this qualitative action research study was to explore human service professionals’ perceptions of the services needed to provide culturally competent resources for transracial adoption in Washington State. Guided by the Transracial Adoption Parenting Series framework developed by the Coalition for Children, Youth, and Families, …

Healthcare Institutions’ Influences On Health Literacy Levels In Mothers In Greensboro, North Carolina, Wole Ajala

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Immigrant populations experience persistent challenges within the U.S. healthcare system, including marginalization, discrimination, and limited access to understandable health information, which contribute to health disparities. Factors such as low income, cultural differences, and intersecting identities related to gender and race further compound these challenges. This qualitative phenomenological study examined how these social determinants of health influenced the health literacy experiences of African immigrant mothers in Greensboro, North Carolina. Data were collected through encrypted WhatsApp audio interviews with eight African immigrant mothers who had used healthcare services in the United States. Interview recordings were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using inductive thematic …

Strategies To Reduce Diagnostic Wait Times In Vha Facilities, Frankie Loadz Odlens Beaubrun

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States, providing care to millions of veterans annually. Diagnostic service wait times affect veteran access to timely diagnoses and subsequent eligibility for disability benefits, vocational rehabilitation, and social services. The purpose of this integrative review was to identify evidence-based strategies to reduce diagnostic wait time within the VHA. The guiding review question addressed what strategies VA medical centers can use to reduce diagnostic wait times. Guided by Donabedian’s structure-process-outcome framework, a comprehensive literature search initially identified 487 sources across multiple databases. Subsequently, systematic screening and application …

Occupational Stressors Correlated With Depression And Burnout Among Criminal Defense Attorneys, Fay Frances Spence

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No prior studies have compared occupational stressors of criminal defense lawyers by practice setting (public defender, court-appointed, or retained). In this mixed-method study, the goal was to identify occupational stressors perceived by criminal defense lawyers in different settings and to determine if those stressors were correlated with depression, anxiety, and burnout, using Maslach’s burnout-engagement continuum as the theoretical framework. Based on stressors identified in semistructured interviews with 15 criminal defense lawyers, the Criminal Defender Stress Survey (CDSS) was created to measure the frequency and perceived intensity of identified stressors. The CDSS was incorporated into an online survey, along with the …

Foreword, Marlene Coss

UC Law Constitutional Quarterly

No abstract provided.

Secluded Strategies: Engaging Uncertainty To Empower Creative Decisions, Chris Lambert

Imaginings: creative practice and inquiry

This paper investigates the role of ambiguity as a source of inspiration and creative agency. Ambiguity is presented not as a limitation, but as a medium through which artists explore, experiment, and generate meaning. Brian Eno’s Oblique Strategies, a deck of cryptic prompts designed to provoke reflection and disrupt habitual thinking, illustrates how indeterminate instructions can stimulate the imagination without prescribing outcomes. Building on this principle, the study introduces Secluded Strategies, a personalised deck of Eno-inspired prompts derived from his artistic statements and reflections. Each card serves as an invitation for interpretive engagement, encouraging artists to make active …

Luja Volume 6: Issue 1 (Full Volume)

Laurier Undergraduate Journal of the Arts

No abstract provided.

Secondary Mathematics Teachers' Perceptions, Knowledge, And Collaborative Practices In Professional Learning Communities, Josey S. Rodriguez

Education Theses and Dissertations

This Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice (ISDiP) investigates teacher perceptions, knowledge of and collaborative practices of professional learning communities (PLCs) at a Southwest Texas high school. The study used a mixed-methods design utilizing a survey, open-ended questionnaire, PLC observations, and an interview. Participants included 8 mathematics teachers and one campus administrator at a campus with over 800 students in grades nine through twelve. Teacher perceptions of PLCs were analyzed using descriptive statistics for quantitative data, while observations, the open-ended questionnaire, and the interview were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Findings revealed that despite PLC+ training, limited …

Implementing A Self-Administered Crafft Screening Tool In A Pediatric Mental Health Setting, Michael Nguyen

Doctoral Dissertations & Projects

Background: Adolescent substance use disorders (SUDs) require early identification in inpatient psychiatric settings, but inconsistent screening workflows limit systematic detection.

Aims: This quality improvement project evaluated implementation of the Car, Relax, Alone, Forget, Friends, Trouble (CRAFFT) 2.1 screening tool to improve identification of adolescents at risk for SUDs and support multidisciplinary communication.

Methods: CRAFFT 2.1 screening was embedded into admission workflows for adolescents admitted to two inpatient psychiatric units. Admission nurses distributed self-administered forms during admission. Completed screenings were scored and entered into the electronic medical record. Scores were categorized as low (0), medium (1), or high (≥2). High-risk results …

Chimes: April 27, 2026, Calvin University

Chimes

Former CPI student exonerated, to attend Knollcrest campus in the fall by Ashley Hamons

Behind the budget cuts made for Dialogue and Chimes by Maya Oeverman

World Languages at Calvin: A look at the last 30 years by Mkenna Wilkinson & Ian Tjoelker

Faculty Senate approves changes to hiring, confessional standards, alignment with Synod by Ashley Hamons & Ian Tjoelker

Calvin cuts acrobatics & tumbling program by Alex DeYoung

Calvin department of visual and performing arts hosts annual Spring Arts Festival by Ava Roush

How Survivors Of Exploitation Who Use Drugs Navigate Systems Of Care: An Analysis Of Survivor Insights Using The Intersectional Risk Environment, Theresa Anasti, Hilary Thibodeau, Nathaniel A Dell, Kathleen Preble, Lauren Grimes, Lindsay B Gezinski

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Drug-related risks such as adverse health outcomes, overdose, and violent victimization vary across populations due to the marginalization of identities, structural inequities, and differing environments. Discrimination and criminalization exacerbate drug-related risks specifically for survivors of sexual exploitation who use drugs. This study aims to understand how survivors who are not currently utilizing intensive treatment services perceive their risk environment, including available resources, and identify possible mechanisms to address health equity. Emphasizing the role of harm reduction and the expertise of lived experience, this paper encourages innovative approaches to supporting survivors.

METHODS: A research team conducted seventeen semi-structured interviews with …

Creating Sustainable School And Home Gardens: Zooming Into Nature With Digital Microscopes, Rita Hagevik, Kaitlin Campbell, Kathy Cabe Trundle, Lawrence Krissek

All Current Publications

This fact sheet provides information about using digital microscopes in the garden. It discusses how they work, choosing the right digital microscope, uses in the garden, and activities. It is part of the Creating Sustainable School and Home Gardens resource sheet series from Utah State University Extension and Smart Foodscapes.

Cjcr Publishes Volume 27, Issue 2 (Symposium 2025), Michele Kallo

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution (CJCR) Blog

The Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution—the country’s preeminent legal journal of arbitration, negotiation, mediation, settlement, and restorative justice—today published the web edition of Volume 27, Issue 2 (Symposium 2025). The print edition of the issue has also been released.

Accessible at Volume 27.2: Symposium 2025, this issue contains Articles by Sarah Rudolph Cole, Michael Z. Green, Jill I. Gross, and Amy J. Schmitz; Notes by Thomas Riley, Matthew Zelman, and Leora Perlstein; and a Commentary by Federica Simonelli.

The print edition of the issue has also been released. This post was originally published on the Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution …

Creepy Or Customized? Understanding The Ethical Boundaries Of Ai-Powered Personalization, Hope Schultz

Honors Projects

Artificial intelligence has taken the world by storm, and its presence in our lives only continues to grow. Not only has it changed the way we live and interact with technology, but it has also fundamentally changed how businesses reach customers, particularly in marketing. It now powers the algorithms, predictions, and personalized experiences that shape nearly every digital interaction we have as consumers, including the videos we see on TikTok, the products that are recommended to us on Amazon, and the weirdly accurate ads that pop up across different platforms. These AI-powered systems are constantly learning from tiny behaviors we …

Autoantibody Reactivity In Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Characterizing Keratinocyte And Apocrine Gland Targets Across Disease Progression And Anti-Tnf-Α Treatment, Talla Hamouche

Student Theses and Dissertations

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disease associated with impaired quality of life, representing one of the highest burdens among dermatological conditions. This debilitating disorder primarily affects apocrine-gland-bearing and flexural skin areas, most commonly the axillae, breast, buttocks, and groin. As lesions recur and new sites emerge, surgical excision does not guarantee prevention of disease reestablishment. Despite its substantial burden, HS remains among the least understood and most treatment-resistant inflammatory diseases. The mechanisms underlying this chronicity and the frequent failure of conventional anti-inflammatory therapies remain unresolved. An underappreciated autoimmune dimension may contribute to HS pathogenesis: the clonal …

No Limits: Exploring The Limitless Possibilities Of Creativity Within Extreme Limitations, Ashley J. Hanson Mr

Staff Scholarship - Australia & Dubai

This essay examines the exponential evolution of digital music production technology, from the MIDI and sampling revolution of the 1980’s, to the contemporary DAWs, virtual instruments and AI-driven tools that have democratised creativity within the modern discipline. However, it also explores how an abundance of cost-effective tools introduces psychological challenges that inhibit creative potential. It critiques "choice overload," where a multitude of options induce decision paralysis, homogenise outputs and stifle innovation. Countering this, the essay advocates for self-imposed constraints as a catalyst for focused ingenuity and flow states, exemplified by legendary musicians such as Fatboy Slim and David Byrne. Objectives …

Americana Marketing Campaign, Shaela O'Keefe

Undergraduate Theses

Americana World Community Center has served as a beacon of hope and justice within the Louisville, Kentucky community for over 30 years. The nonprofit organization provides “holistic services to Louisville's refugee, immigrant and underserved population to build strong and healthy families, create a safe and supportive community and help every individual realize their potential” (Americana, 2024). Americana creates opportunities for families to thrive through “education, family support, youth achievement, and career & financial development” (Americana, 2024). To further Americana’s mission and assist immigrant families, the organization is currently undergoing the process of gathering narratives of Americana’s impact on their staff, …

Media Framing Of The Bawku Conflict In Ghana: An Analysis Of Cultural Biases, Narratives, And Peacebuilding Implications, Falilatu Saaka

Master of Arts in Media and Communication Plan II Graduate Projects

This research examines the media framing of the Bawku conflict in Ghana, focusing on how cultural biases shape the portrayal of ethnic disputes and influence public perception. Utilizing a qualitative discourse analysis grounded in Framing Theory and Afrocentric critique, the study analyzes ten news reports from major Ghanaian media outlets to identify patterns of bias, narrative construction, and ideological positioning. Findings reveal that media coverage predominantly emphasizes security and stability, often at the expense of addressing deeper political, economic, and historical factors. Language, imagery, and sourcing choices tend to reinforce stereotypes, skewing public understanding towards ethnic dichotomies, particularly between the …

Social Perspective Taking, The Search For Meaning, And A Sense Of Belonging In Emerging Adults, Miranda Joy Powers

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study examined relationships among social perspective-taking, the search for meaning, and a sense of belonging among college students. Drawing on data from the 2021 Multi-Institutional Study of Leadership, this research tested whether social perspective-taking and the search for meaning predicted higher levels of belonging. Additionally, covariates, including race, religious affiliation, gender, and COVID-19, were analyzed to assess their effects on both the independent and dependent variables. A regression analysis was performed, and as hypothesized, students with higher levels of social perspective-taking and those searching for meaning reported greater belonging. In addition, the covariates race, religious affiliation, COVID-19, and …

Homeless Veterans: How To Help Veterans Receive Their Benefits So No Veteran Is Without Sustainable Housing, Kelly Hancock

Nonprofit and NGO Studies Student Projects

In this research, I examined why veterans remain homeless despite available resources and what can be done to place them in sustainable housing. I did this through interviews with VA staff and by examining various projects implemented to support veterans. In my research, I found that the resources are available for veterans if they know to request them. The VA employees noted that misconceptions and misinformation are leading causes of veterans not asking for help. Therefore, a solution would be for civilians to call the VA hotline to report homeless veterans. They will then meet the veterans where they are …

Islam And Acculturation: The Presence Of Shamanism And Indigenous Ritual Practice In The Post-Conversion Ilkhanate,, Miranda H. Lenihan

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

Devin Deweese's book Islamization and Native Religion in the Golden Horde: Baba Tükles and Conversion to Islam is a keystone work in the study of post-Mongol invasions Central Asia. He explores how Shamanism, the indigenous religion of Mongol tribes, remained culturally relevant in the Golden Horde following the widespread conversion to Islam in hagiographical narratives.

This study investigates the presence of indigenous Shamanic traditions within the post-conversion Ilkhanate and how Deweese's argument for the Golden Horde applies to other Mongol successor states.  Following the widespread adoption of Islam, formerly polytheistic Mongol and Turkic tribes did not abandon their native culture; …

Quality Improvement Project: Improving Adn Faculty Professional Development Through Simulation Training, Sharon Haley Peace

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Lack of structured simulation training for nursing faculty, which has been identified as a gap in the literature, can negatively impact the quality of simulation-based education and student learning outcomes. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project was to develop, implement, and evaluate an evidence-based training intervention aimed at improving faculty self-efficacy and competence in simulation facilitation. The project was guided by Lewin’s Change Theory and Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory to support faculty development. A quantitative, quasi-experimental pre-post design was used with a convenience sample of nine associate degree nursing faculty at a rural community …