Digital Commons Network^™

Don’T Tell Me How To Fact-Check; Show Me, And Let Me Try! A Media Literacy Intervention With Sixth-Graders, Thomas Nygren, Carl-Anton Werner Axelsson

Journal of Media Literacy Education

This study examines how different educational approaches related to "Fria Ordets Dag" (Free Speech Day), a media literacy program by the Swedish public service, affect the ability of 859 sixth-graders to evaluate news and misinformation. Findings indicate that verbal instructions from a professional fact-checker and animations to model online fact-checking were less effective than demonstrative, authentic video tutorials. Feedback and practice were also important. The intervention yielded mixed outcomes on students’ attitudes towards credible news sources, pointing to the necessity for educational designs that bolster fact-checking and source trust. The research emphasizes how large-scale school interventions to promote students’ navigation …

Promoting News Literacy With Epistemological Beliefs, Ifla Checklist And Ai: Insights From A Teacher Training Program In Italy, Flavio Manganello

Journal of Media Literacy Education

This study examines the integration of epistemological beliefs, the IFLA checklist for evaluating news credibility, and the News Verifier, an AI tool powered by GPT-4, within a teacher training program aimed at enhancing news literacy. It explores the relationship between educators’ epistemological profiles and their ability to classify news using the IFLA checklist. The study also evaluates alignment between human classifications and those generated by the News Verifier, examining the potential of AI as a complementary resource for supporting practice and reflection in news literacy education. Results indicate that consistent application of the checklist improves alignment with AI outputs, although …

Building Resilience: The Influence Of The Format On The Effectiveness Of News Literacy Messages, Patrick F. A. Van Erkel, Peter Van Aelst, David N. Hopmann, Claes H. De Vreese, Joren Van Nieuwenborgh

Journal of Media Literacy Education

Although academic interest in news literacy messages (NLM) has grown, many questions about them remain unresolved. First, it remains unclear how the format of the NLM influences its effectiveness. Second, we still know little about their long-term effectiveness. To answer these questions, this study conducted a two-wave experiment in Belgium. We compared NLMs in the format of a text, an infographic, and video. We also manipulated elements in the false news article that participants had to evaluate. Our findings show that NLMs are effective and that the effects remain over a middle-long period of two weeks. Second, we find that …

Spring 2026 Excellence In Research And Creative Inquiry And Incite Award Ceremony, Office Of Student Research, Longwood University

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

No abstract provided.

Occupational Therapy For Maternal Pelvic Floor And Mental Health: A Holistic Approach To Recovery, Diana S. Theodore

Student Capstone Papers

Maternal pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is highly prevalent yet often underrecognized in occupational therapy practice, despite its significant impact on mental health, daily function, and quality of life. Many postpartum women experience symptoms such as urinary incontinence, pain with intimacy, and pelvic organ prolapse, which are frequently normalized or left untreated. Occupational therapy practitioners often have limited training in addressing the complex relationship between pelvic floor function and maternal mental health, contributing to gaps in care. The purpose of this capstone project was to develop a comprehensive handbook for occupational therapy students and practitioners integrating pelvic floor function and maternal …

Looking For Loopholes: Are Suicide Notes Really Admissible As Dying Declarations?, Marc D. Ginsberg, Hugh M. Mundy

Cleveland State Law Review

The “classic” dying declaration under Federal Rule of Evidence 804(b)(2) is made by a person near death from fatal wounds or illness who makes a statement to a third party about who inflicted the wounds or caused the illness. The rule is based on the belief that persons making such statements are unlikely to lie as the sense of impending death removes “all temptation to falsehood.” Thus, in theory, the dying declaration bears an imprimatur of trustworthiness justifying its admission as a hearsay exception.

Still, the exception for dying declarations has been described as “the most mystical in its theory …

The Transformation Of Autonomous Faculties: From The Enlightenment Era To Present-Day, Amber Ready

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

This thesis examines the historical transformation of autonomous faculties from the Enlightenment to the present, arguing that the material and technological conditions necessary for autonomous judgment have been progressively eroded through capitalism. Beginning with Kant’s account of enlightenment as the emergence from a self‑incurred minority, this paper shows that autonomy has always depended on social and economic structures that determine who can exercise independent reasoning. Through Marx and Lukács, the analysis traces how commodity production, alienation, and reification reorganize subjectivity and render social relations increasingly opaque. Adorno’s account of recognition, self‑preservation, and the culture industry further illustrates how individuals are …

Redefining Inclusion: The Lived Experience Of Physically Disabled Nurses In The United States, Vanessa Cameron

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of inclusion among physically disabled nurses actively working in the United States, including how those experiences differ based on disability timing—before or after licensure. Current literature largely centers on sensory or learning disabilities within academic settings; thus, this study addresses a critical gap by focusing on inclusion within professional nursing practice.

Significance: Physically disabled nurses remain underrepresented and underexamined in nursing research and workforce discussions. Applying Critical Disability Theory (CDT)—a framework never before used in nursing—this study explores how ableism and inclusion shape workplace experiences and opportunities …

Reimagining Hwe: Preparing Graduate Nurses For Cultural And Safety Transformation, Shanna D. Chapman, Rose Nieves

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

The healthcare landscape has undergone profound transformation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing critical vulnerabilities in workforce well-being and safety. Recent data indicate that 65% of nurses report high levels of stress and burnout, with 40% reconsidering their career choice, and 67% expressing concern over workload management. These challenges are compounded by staffing shortages, compensation concerns, limited organizational support, and a troubling rise in workplace violence—75% of nurses are likely to experience violence during their careers, with 77% reporting verbal abuse and 25% physical assault, contributing to 10,000 injuries annually and costing the industry $2 billion (Cross Country …

The Parthenon, April 22, 2026, Baylee Parsons, Kaitlyn Fleming, Abby Ayes, Ella Hatfield, Davina Snyder, Scott Price, Trista Honaker, Tally Mamula

The Parthenon

No abstract provided.

An Injury Prevention Program For Musculoskeletal Injuries, Kima Esters, Rebecca King

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

Musculoskeletal injuries pose a significant risk to occupational performance, participation, and overall well-being due to resulting functional deficits. Occupational therapists play a crucial role in managing these impairments and promoting independence to reduce the risk of reinjury, psychological symptoms, and long-term physical limitations while supporting re-engagement in activities of daily living and meaningful occupations. This injury prevention program focused on educating and training healthcare professionals in prevention and management strategies, including postural awareness, work simplification, ergonomics, adaptive equipment, mental health strategies for stress and anxiety management, and sleep preparation to improve patient outcomes and overall quality of life.

Vamos A Chismear: The Intersection Of Social Media And Chisme Fostering Belonging Among Middle School Girls, Juana Yumeida Chavez Kawasaki

LMU Theses and Dissertations

Social media engagement among Latinx middle school girls has been increasingly associated with harmful trends, including declining mental health, negative body image, and engagement in risky behaviors. Latinx middle school girls, along with gender minority youth, have often represented a high percentage of users vulnerable to the seductive spell of digital platforms and the subsequent rewiring of childhood. The current study used a qualitative (Creswell et al., 2007) research design featuring pláticas, a method rooted in Chicana/Latina feminist (Delgado Bernal et al., 2023) epistemologies that prioritizes embodied knowledge and resistance. Drawing upon the building blocks of social media engagement framework, …

Spring 2026 Student Showcase For Research & Creative Inquiry Program, Office Of Student Research, Longwood University

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

No abstract provided.

Youth For Sale, Kemi Martins

Intertext

No abstract provided.

Transgender And Gender Diverse Alumni Sense Of Belonging In Christian Higher Education: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Kara Elizabeth Martin

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study explored how nine transgender and gender diverse (TGD) alumni from member institutions of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) interpreted their undergraduate experiences with belonging and exclusion. Given the unique religious climates of CCCU schools, these alumni navigated complex tensions between their personal faith, gender identity, and institutional expectations. Through in-depth, semi-structured interviews, participants reflected retrospectively on their collegiate journeys, emphasizing the evolving meaning they ascribed to these experiences both during and after their enrollment. Analysis revealed a distinct temporal movement across three primary phases: entering college with idealized expectations of spiritual …

An Exploration Of Romantic Self-Sabotage And Related Constructs, Jada Bowers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Two studies examined the associations between relationship self-sabotage (RSS) and dyadic perfectionism, as well as the impact of a relationship threat manipulation on RSS. We also assessed whether dyadic perfectionism moderates the association between experimental condition and RSS. We recruited undergraduate student participants who answered self-report questionnaires about dyadic perfectionism, self-esteem, and RSS in Study 1. Other-oriented dyadic perfectionism was significantly positively correlated with the RSS subscales in both studies. Participants in Study 2 were randomly placed in one of two groups. One group underwent a threat manipulation; the other group did not. We expected that experimental participants would have …

Think Small, Act Big: How Action Identification Shapes Responses To Scientific Messages, Laura Gust

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Effective scientific communication is critical in today’s media environment, dominated by misinformation, sensational headlines, and targeted advertisements. Research shows that simply presenting scientific information is not enough to change opinions or reduce misinformation; instead, messages must be tailored to specific audiences. This is especially important for climate change, where people often hold resistant attitudes and are overwhelmed by information. However, no studies have applied Action Identification Theory to changing opinions or the intention–behavior gap in climate change. The current study examines how alignment or misalignment of message type and enduring personal agency affects participants’ climate-friendly beliefs and behaviors. Some support …

Real Horror: The Supernatural And Its Connection To Abuse In Late 20th Century Horror, John Sebastian

Honors Theses

Horror authors from the late 20th century explain the turmoil of domestic and childhood abuse through supernatural elements to represent the loss of autonomy of victims. Several horror authors from the late 20th century showcase abuse through the supernatural not to exploit the experiences of victims of abuse but allow for spaces for readers to encounter truly horrifying stories and process them. Works explored include Stephen King’s The Shining and Carrie, as well as Ira Levin’s Rosemary's Baby and William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist.

The Evolution And Impact Of Fashion Marketing In The Age Of Social Media, Lillie L. Warrington

Honors Theses

This research paper aims to analyze the effect of social media on consumer behavior in fashion marketing by investigating how fashion brands have adapted their strategies to leverage social media platforms effectively and exploring the role of social media influencers in shaping brand perception and consumer loyalty. By addressing these objectives, this research seeks to contribute to the growing body of knowledge on digital marketing in the fashion industry, offering valuable insights.

The study will be conducted through a comprehensive review of existing research and primary research, including a survey of 143 participants, to better understand how social media affects …

The Student Movement Volume 110 Issue 22: Coloring Within The Finish Lines, Anna Rybachek, Addison Randall, Megan Constantine, Joey Carrion, Ysabella Neves, Kyle Simpson, Isa Demoraes, Matthew Henderson, Aiko J. Ayala Rios, Alyssa Caruthers, Maya Thomas

The Student Movement V. 110 (2025-2026)

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Literary Summer: Refreshing Book Recommendations for Hot Weather, Anna Rybachek

AU Professors Charles Reid & Chi Yong Yun To Lead Joint Recital, Addison Randall

HUMANS

A Fond Farewell: Dean Amy Rosenthal's Next Chapter Begins, Megan Constantine

NEWS

Andrews University Student Movement: 2025-2026 News Highlight Reel, Joey Carrion

Scrambled Legs Host Colorful Campus Run, Ysabella Neves

Andrews Shares Artistry at Library Poetry Event, Kyle Simpson

Student's Tragedy Sparks Safety Initiative at Lake Chapin, Isa DeMoraes

IDEAS

The Complexity of Job Hunting: What Can We Do?, Matthew Henderson

Reading as an Act of Change, Aiko J. Ayala Rios

PULSE …

Stories We Tell (April 22, 24, 2026), Lindenwood University

Student Dance Programs & Brochures

Event program for Stories We Tell (April 22, 24, 2026), Lindenwood University.

Robust And Interpretable Cross-Domain Arabic Readability Prediction Using Hybrid Modeling: Evidence On The Limitations Of Transformer-Based Classifiers, Sarah Alzu'bi

Theses and Dissertations

Automatic readability assessment aims to predict how difficult a text is for readers to understand. The concept of readability has been widely studied across languages due to its significant impact on reading comprehension, leading to the development of various methods and approaches. In this study, I addressed two key challenges in readability assessment. First, I examine the performance of statistical classifiers and transformer-based models, including CAMeLBERT(Inoue et al, 2021.) with a focus on their ability to generalize under domain, genre, and stylistic shifts. Second, I investigate the interpretability of transformer performance in readability task, which are often criticized for their …

The Study Of Instructional Sequencing On Students’ Learning Of Science Concepts, Mallory Hughes

Education Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Using Ai Tools Shifts The Cognitive Structures Of Creative Problem-Solving In A Prompt-Based, Free Response Task, Veronica Smith, Andra Geana

Psychology Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Medial Prefrontal Cortical Ensembles Direct Behavior In Response To Competing Needs, Francesca H. Schaub, Kaelin S. Mccaffrey, Madison A. Rohr, Olivia L. Belt, Emma N. Morley, Claire Kelly, Noah A. Ashby, Alonie L. Ashley

Neuroscience Program Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between Student Culture And Experiences Of Discrimination And Racism At Providence College, Colin Cavanaugh, Bianca Rego, Melissa Enriquez

Social Work Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Association Between Sleep And Social Media Among Older Adults, Ava Santoro

Psychology Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Caste, Religion, And Inequality In India, Chloe Johnson, Elyse O’Leary, Diana Tarazi, Claire Geis, Francesca Bambara

Global Studies Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

What The Land Knows: Solastalgia And Land-Based Cultural Trauma Among Appalachian Americans, Clara Johnson

Social Work Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Access For All: Student Insights Into Cvs Accessibility, Gabriella Huizenga

Education Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.