Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring The Intersection Of Race And Native Speakerism In English Language Teaching: Experiences Of Black African Teachers In Turkey, John Ayodeji Odudele

Linguistics

Research on race and native speaker status in language teaching provides little insight into the experiences of Black African English teachers (BAETs) in the diaspora. To address this gap, this study examines how aspects of BAETs' positionalities - such as race and native speaker status create challenges in their professional and societal lives in Turkey. Data from twelve semi­ structured interviews of BAETs were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings suggest that race­ related challenges trump language-related ones and that Blackness fundamentally shapes outsiders’ perception and value of BAETs’ linguistic expertise. Even when BAETs possess the same or superior qualifications as …

Impact Of Exchange Traded Funds (Etf) Holdings On Retail Investors’ Mutual Fund Portfolios Performance, Arunachalam R Mr

Theses and Dissertations

As evidenced by the practices passed down through generations the importance of savings and investments is well established in Indian culture. Indian investors consider investment as an essential commitment to financial sustainability and safeguarding dependents. Indians implement investment strategies during their working years to ensure long term financial security and support for future generations.

These cultural practices support the foundation of personal finance in India and well established financial theories (MPT, CAPM and EMH) guide optimising investment outcomes (SEBI, 2020). The effects of inflation and increased life expectancy made Indian investors aware of the need for a substantial financial corpus …

Bridging Scales In Epidemic Modeling From Individuals To Networks And Ecosystems, Saiprasasd Vr

Theses and Dissertations

Epidemics have shaped the trajectory of human history, repeatedly exposing vulnerabilities in healthcare systems and influencing socio-economic dynamics on a global scale. The COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, underscored the pressing need for flexible and responsive modeling framework capable of adapting to dynamic and evolving epidemic scenarios. Motivated by these challenges, this thesis explores the development of innovative epidemic models that integrate classical mathematical modeling techniques, network-based frameworks, and modern data-driven approaches. Each chapter addresses a distinct dimension of epidemic spread, from vaccination dynamics and community coupling to ecological complexity and adaptive human behavior, culminating in a model-free paradigm suitable for …

Navigating The Psychosocial Landscape Of Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome: An Autobiographic Case Study, Jessica D. Locke, Jason T. Eastman

Sociology

Living with a rare disorder, such as Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome (EDS), presents unique psychosocial challenges. This autobiographical case study explores the psychological, social, and professional impacts of navigating life with hypermobile EDS (hEDS), a condition marked by chronic pain, joint instability, and diagnostic uncertainty. Placing personal experiences into the context of clinical findings and research, this study highlights both the physical and emotional toll of the syndrome, including stigma, isolation, and medical gaslighting often accompanying rare conditions. The first-person case study of the first author extracted by the second author experienced in qualitative interviewing provides a first-hand account of the importance …

Hazard Identification And Analysis For Equipment-Related Fatal Incidents In The Us Underground Coal Mining, Ebenezer Kofi Anthony

Engineering

This study investigates equipment-related fatal incidents in U.S. underground coal mining from 1993 to 2023, analyzing trends, causes, and the effectiveness of safety measures. Using data from the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), this study examined 205 fatalities linked to continuous miners, shuttle cars, roof bolters, load-haul-dump (LHD) vehicles, longwall systems, and hoisting equipment. A mixed-methods approach combines the quantitative analysis of accident trends with qualitative models, such as Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Bowtie Analysis. The findings revealed that powered haulage and machinery accidents were the leading causes of fatalities, with mechanical failures (40%), human errors …

Differences In Fitness Between Cadet And General Population Firefighter Academy Recruits, Scott D. Brau, David Cornell, Benjamin J. Mendelson, Rudi A. Marciniak, Kyle Ebersole

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(8): 774-793, 2025. This longitudinal study explored entry route- and age-related fitness differences between cadet (CR) and general population (GR) firefighter recruits. Fitness data were collected from eight separate firefighter recruit academy cohorts (N = 317; 122 CR, 195 GR; 27.17 ± 7.58 yrs, 177.30 ± 8.72 cm, 88.65 ± 17.78 kg). In the first week of the academy, recruits completed an assessment battery including: body composition via skinfold measures to estimate body fat (BF, %) and fat-free mass (FFM, kg); aerobic fitness (VO_2peak, mL· kg^-1· min^-1) and …

An Integrated Literature Review Examining Nurse Burnout Interventions, Wislande Joseph

DNP Qualifying Manuscripts

Nurse burnout has detrimental consequences for patients, nurses, and organizations and can negatively impact patient outcomes, nurse quality of life, and organizational costs. This integrated literature review aimed to examine interventions for nurse burnout in order to identify what characterizes effective interventions, whether evidence supports implementing such interventions, and how the most commonly-implemented intervention type (mindfulness-based) in particular impacts signs and symptoms of nurse burnout. A two-part search was conducted of CINAHL, PubMed, Google Scholar, and APA PsychInfo. Part one investigated burnout interventions broadly using the primary search terms nurse burnout and interventions; part two focused specifically on mindfulness-based interventions …

Racially And Ethnically Minoritized Students’ Experiences In Virginia School Psychology Graduate Programs, Fatima Z. Rahman-Yu

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

This study explored the lived experiences of racially and ethnically minoritized (REM) students in Virginia-based school psychology graduate programs. This study was created to provide Virginia school psychology programs, and beyond, recommendations created by REM students for REM students. Data were collected using virtual focus groups through Zoom in order to allow REM students to disclose deep and honest experiences in a safe space. Data were coded, analyzed, and interpreted using thematic analysis to reveal underlying patterns and similarities. Results from this study showed that factors that support REM student experiences in Virginia school psychology graduate programs include diverse cohorts, …

Group Social Skills Training Intervention For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Kayla Hearl

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Some of the challenges for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) include social engagement as well as building and establishing relationships with peers. Social skills training programs have been used to improve social skill development in children with ASD. The current study sought to examine the use of a group social skills training intervention to develop the perspective taking skills of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The Social Thinking curriculum, “You Are a Social Detective” was implemented with a small group of two students with ASD over the course of 10 weekly sessions. The students’ teachers completed the Social …

Uncovering The Hidden High School Experiences Of Asian American Young Adults: A Mixed Methods Approach, Julia Shin

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Most research regarding Asian American adolescents’ high school experiences have been quantitative in nature, leaving out the nuances of their lived experiences. While quantitative data is important to gather measurable, objective data from a larger sample of people, qualitative data is also important to add depth and humanness to participant responses. Thirty-two Asian American young adults participated in a mixed methods study that consisted of a survey and optional focus group, aiming to explore the impact of the internalization of the model minority stereotype (MMS), ethnic identity, and representation of racially and ethnically minoritized teachers on their high school experiences. …

Resilience And Mental Health: Unraveling The Interplay Of Depression, Anxiety, And Stress In First-Generation College Students, Indyah Ferrouillet, Bemsimbom Nkuo, Patrick J. Cooper

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

Research suggests a moderate incidence of depression, anxiety, and especially stress among college students (Ramon-Arbues et al., 2020). It is reasonable to believe that these mental health outcomes might be inversely correlated with resilience, the ability to adapt to new challenges. In this study, we hypothesize an inverse correlation between resilience stress, anxiety, and depression. In other words, college students who feel resilient will experience greater mental health and wellness. Building on previous research that suggests these effects in women only (Ahmed & Julius, 2015), gender differences will be examined. Few studies have attempted to see whether these correlations are …

Considering Climate Contexts: Examining Promotive And Punitive School Characteristics Among Diverse High School Students, Ashley Bazin, Maryse Richards, Akila Raoul, Allison Lloyd, Elizabeth Rovegno, Yael Granot

Psychology: Faculty Publications

Schools are a critical developmental context for adolescents that can, depending on certain characteristics, do a better or worse job at promoting student resilience and well- being. In working to meet student needs and respond to student behaviors, schools can exhibit more punitive characteristics, like exclusionary discipline practices, or more promotive characteristics, including restorative practices and marshaling of mental health resources. While punitive factors have been associated with more negative outcomes, especially for marginalized students, and promotive factors have been associated with more positive outcomes for students, these factors have rarely been considered together. We conducted an online survey of …

Prior Adolescent Oxycodone Exposure Enhances Pain Sensitivity Following Chronic Intermittent Ethanol In Adult Female Mice, Lisa L. Wilson, Lucas Albrechet-Souza, Linh Ha, Nicholas W. Gilpin, Tiffany A. Wills

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

The opioid crisis remains a critical public health concern, with rising rates of overdose and opioid use disorder. While opioids are effective for managing pain, both chronic use and withdrawal are associated with increased pain sensitivity. Although most prior research has focused on adults, opioid use during adolescence is common and linked to a heightened risk for developing alcohol use disorder and other forms of substance misuse. Like opioids, acute alcohol use can be analgesic, but chronic alcohol exposure and withdrawal lead to increased pain sensitivity. However, the interactive effects of adolescent opioid and adult alcohol exposure on pain remain …

The Future Intensification Of Hydrological Extremes And Whiplashes In The Contiguous United States Increase Community Vulnerability, Surendra Maharjan, Wenzhao Li, John D. Bolten, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Hydroclimatic whiplash rapid shifts between drought and flood poses growing risks to U.S. communities. Here, we assess historical extremes and future projections using a normalized streamflow metric: the annual mean flow’s deviation from the 1981–2020 average, expressed as a fraction of that average. This metric is applied to United States Geological Survey records and Localized Constructed Analogs downscaled projections under Representative Concentration Pathways 4.5 and 8.5. Results reveal sharp regional disparities, with drought deficits exceeding 300% of normal flow during multi-year droughts. By linking hydrologic outcomes with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Risk Index, we find that counties facing …

Toward A Consensus Model Of Cognitive–Reading Achievement Relations Using Meta-Structural Equation Modeling, Daniel B. Hajovsky, Christopher R. Niileksela, Dawn P. Flanagan, Vincent C. Alfonso, William Joel Schneider, Jacob Robbins

Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Cognitive tests measure psychological constructs that predict the development of academic skills. Research on cognitive–reading achievement relations has primarily been completed with single-test batteries and samples, resulting in inconsistencies across studies. The current study developed a consensus model of cognitive–reading achievement relations using meta-structural equation modeling (meta-SEM) through a cross-sectional analysis of subtest correlations from English-language norm-referenced tests. The full dataset used for this study included 49,959 correlations across 599 distinct correlation matrices. These included correlations among 1112 subtests extracted from 137 different cognitive and achievement test batteries. The meta-SEM approach allowed for increased sampling of cognitive and academic reading …

Exploring The Ant: How Well Do Three Attention Networks Predict Road Hazard Perception, Xander Philip Martinez

Master's Theses

Hazard perception is the ability of a driver to anticipate emerging dangers. Driving is a complex activity requiring attention to various stimuli to prevent accidents. Prior studies have shown that older, experienced drivers detect more cues and perceive hazards better than younger, inexperienced drivers. Attention is multifaceted, and three visual attention networks were focused on in the study: alerting (readiness), orienting (spatial focus), and executive control (distraction inhibition). A sample of 95 participants completed two tasks: The Attention Network Test was used to assess these three attention networks, and to measure road hazard awareness, participants viewed short dashcam videos (~233 …

Cinematic Empathy: Autistic Interpretation Of Social Cues In Narrative Film, Lux Gomez

University Honors Theses

From research and lived experience we can see a pattern of Autistic people engaging and forming connection with emotional narratives in media, despite stereotypes suggesting they lack empathy or theory of mind. This mixed-methods study sought to lay the groundwork and start preliminary investigation into how film’s structured formal elements may facilitate autistic viewers’ interpretation of social cues that typically challenge autistic-allistic (nonautistic) communication in real life. A sample of 22 participants (13 autistic, 9 allistic) viewed five film scenes depicting lying, flirting, sarcasm, exposition, and flat affect and completed a survey. Both quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed. While …

Unlocking Professional Success: The Power Of Workforce Resilience & Cooperative Extension, Rachel Brauner, Andrew Bronson Crocker, Lakshmi Mahadevan, L. Chris Plein

Journal of Extension

OneOp, a virtual professional development platform dedicated to bolstering the Department of Defense Military Family Readiness System, offers valuable insights into strategies that Cooperative Extension can adopt to enhance workforce resilience. Workforce resilience refers to the capacity of employees to effectively navigate challenging circumstances, cope with stress, adapt to new conditions, and sustain motivation within their work environment. An assessment based on the OneOp webinar series on resiliency delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic identifies best practices that Cooperative Extension can employ to impart essential resilience skills to both individuals and service providers, contributing to a more resilient and adaptable workforce.

Examination Of Cooperative Extension As A Bridging Organization To Enhance Cross-Boundary Collaborative Water Management, Mark E. Burbach, Stephanie M. Kennedy, Weston M. Eaton, Kathryn J. Brasier, Daran R. Rudnick, Walt Whitmer

Journal of Extension

We explored stakeholders’ familiarity with, the trustworthiness of, perceived competence of, and shared vision with Cooperative Extension on water-related issues in two states to determine the degree to which Extension is positioned to be an effective bridging organization. Results of surveys in Nebraska and Pennsylvania showed that overall neither agricultural producers nor non-farm households were very familiar with Extension. However, both stakeholder groups perceived Extension to be trustworthy, competent, and have similar goals on water-related issues. Extension should renew efforts to bolster their familiarity among these groups to enhance their effectiveness as a bridging organization.

Exploring 360 Immersive Videos And Tours In Extension Landscape Design Workshops, Margaret C. Hoffman

Journal of Extension

Immersive 360 technologies are increasing equity and inclusion, learning motivation and engagement of students in many educational disciplines. Extension stakeholders could also benefit from the use of this technology in educational settings. The affordability and ease of use adds a tool to the Extension repertoire to interest and engage stakeholders in the digital age. Surveys were conducted in two green industry workshops after the use of 360 immersive technology to determine the technology’s effectiveness and participant perceptions. Participants reported a positive response when assessing the technology as a learning tool and for ease of use.

Testing An In-Person Segmentation Approach To Enhance Conservation Partnerships Between Agencies And Private Landowners, Jared Messick, Christopher Serenari Dr., Jenn L. Idema, Kristy L. Daniel

Journal of Extension

Creating partnerships with private landowners will require agencies to identify and remove barriers to solidarity through targeted approaches to social interactions. This study provides a heuristic to segment landowners according to the decision-making the level of shared responsibility they associate with conservation outcomes on private lands. I segmented landowners at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department workshops and conducted interviews with participants to better understand the outcomes of the segmentation event. The results of the case study revealed that the segmentation heuristic effectively distinguishes between landowner types and that value alignment with landowners can supplement perceptions of interdependence.

Facilitating Farmer-To-Farmer Elearning: An Evaluation Of Climate And Wildfires Online Courses In California, Natalia Pinzon, Caitlin Brimm

Journal of Extension

This study assesses the effectiveness of two online courses tailored for farmers and ranchers in California, with a particular focus on the role of farmer-to-farmer pedagogies. Utilizing live sessions, a social-learning platform, and multimedia content, we draw insights from engagement metrics, lesson and end-of-course survey evaluations, and course outcomes. Key findings highlight the pivotal role of peer interactions, featuring farmers and completion incentives. Based on the findings, we advocate for the integration of farmer-to-farmer education methods within online learning environments to cultivate regional learning networks, and promote the timely exchange and co-creation of agricultural knowledge amid environmental change.

Content Analysis Of Farm Population Mental Health Online Information Resources In The Ces Southern Region, Juliene Porciuncula, Michael Schulman, Andrew R. Smolski

Journal of Extension

Contemporary institutional emphasis on farm stress has led the Extension System to develop a variety of online information resources directed at the mental health of farm populations. We conducted a web-based search and content analysis of online materials on mental health and farm stress from Extension websites from thirteen Southern states and two territories. The content analysis showed that most online farm stress Extension resources emphasized self-help strategies and were directed at the general farming population. In conclusion, we provide recommendations for the development of online farm stress and mental health information resources.

Master Of Social Work Portfolio, Kyla Wright

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

Identifying all learned ten competencies of social work incorporated into educational settings. Utilizing theoretical practices and an integrated, justified intervention for mental health success.

Master Of Social Work Professional Portfolio, Allison H. Deaver

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This MSW Portfolio encapsulates my learning journey throughout my MSW program, and includes selected projects which demonstrate critical steps in this journey.

Turning On The Light: Learned Experiences From Practicum As A Youth Mentor And Private Practice Counselor, Jackson Tate Nichols Mr.

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

The following is a reflection on the two years I spent completing practicum work for my MSW program at the University of Montana. In this assignment, I will cover areas of multiple competencies and tie them to my experiences. I have included an Appendix to make referencing easier for the reader. My experiences included a year working for Volunteers of America Northern Rockies (VOANR) in an emergency youth home and a year in a private practice counseling environment. I will demonstrate how I have woven program competencies into my fieldwork.

A Reflection Of An Msw Student, Dylan Vogel

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Msw Portfolio. Finding Purpose: A Journey Toward Meaningful Social Work Practice, Stephanie Altenhof

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

My MSW portfolio demonstrates my professional development through the University of Montana's MSW program using a multi-theoretical orientation. Through practicum experiences at the Alzheimer Society of BC and Coast Care Consulting, the portfolio showcases my mastery of the 10 social work competencies and five elements of advanced integrated practice, with a particular focus on trauma-informed care, rural and Indigenous contexts, and community-centered approaches to social work practice.

Master Of Social Work Portfolio, Eryn Eva Robinson

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This portfolio narrative chronicles my professional and personal development throughout my Master of Social Work (MSW) program, reflecting a journey grounded in Indigenous values, trauma-informed practice, and a commitment to social justice. Rooted in my identity as a Native American woman and informed by my grandmother’s survival of the Indian boarding school system, my practice philosophy emphasizes healing-centered engagement, cultural humility, and systemic advocacy. Through diverse practicum experiences, ranging from managing after-school youth programs to clinical work as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) supporting children on the autism spectrum, I integrated theoretical knowledge with hands-on practice. I applied frameworks such …

A Qualitative Exploration Of Sibling Relationships Impacted By Autism: “We’Ll Be Brothers Forever”, Julia M. Linger

Dissertations, 2020-current

The current study used a desire-based research framework to explore the lived experiences of siblinghood in families in which one child is autistic and one child is neurotypical. Their experiences were investigated through semi-structured interviews with eight children (four sibling pairs) between the ages of 11 and 18. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to analyze and interpret the data. Seven shared experiential themes were constructed that helped describe the experiences of siblinghood for the participants: 1) Siblinghood includes both enjoyment and annoyance, 2) Shared activities and quality time facilitate sibling connectedness, 3) Siblings celebrate differences and use their different …