Digital Commons Network^™

Amplifying Strengths: A Phenomenological Exploration Of Elementary Teachers’ Culturally Proficient Practices With Newcomer Students Through An Appreciative Inquiry Lens, Mary Elizabeth Bradford

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of elementary educators working with newcomer students in a Southwest urban school district, with the purpose of identifying culturally proficient strengths that support student belonging and learning. Guided by an interpretive (hermeneutic) phenomenological approach and informed by Appreciative Inquiry, the study centered educators’ meaning-making rather than deficit-oriented perspectives. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with five elementary educators serving newcomer students across kindergarten through fifth grade. Analysis followed van Manen’s phenomenological methods and resulted in six interrelated themes: belonging before language; school as a cultural system; language as agency and identity; cultural …

Quantum Control Protocols For Robust Quantum Computing, Leeseok Kim

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

The fundamental goal of quantum computing is to precisely control quantum systems to perform meaningful tasks, including implementing high-fidelity quantum gates for reliable quantum computation and accurately simulating complex quantum many- body dynamics. In this dissertation, we develop improved quantum control protocols for three distinct objectives, quantum error suppression, quantum optimal control, and analog quantum algorithms, achieving performance beyond standard approaches. First, we introduce new dynamical decoupling protocols, including both determin- istic and randomized constructions, that can substantially outperform conventional deterministic sequences. We then extend the randomized approach to dynamically corrected gates. Second, we propose a randomized quantum optimal control …

One Year Quality Of Life Outcomes In Critically Ill Children: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study, Oceanic Study Investigators, Joseph C Manning, Jos M Latour, Elizabeth Draper, Philip Quinlan, Emma M Popejoy, Grazziela Figueredo, Shreya Iyer, Thomas Trimble, Julie Menzies, Martha A Q Curley, Jane Coad

School of Nursing and Midwifery

BACKGROUND: Survivors of pediatric intensive care often experience prolonged morbidity, but recovery trajectories and features associated with impairment in general PICU populations remain uncertain. We aimed to explore the trajectory of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and fatigue in critically ill children over the first year following PICU discharge, and to identify baseline and PICU factors associated with worse outcomes.

METHODS: OCEANIC is a multicenter prospective cohort study across 10 English PICUs. Children aged 1 month-17 years with PICU stay ≥ 48 h were enrolled (2019-2022) and followed for 12-months (to 2023). HRQoL (PedsQL™ 4.0 Acute Versions) and fatigue (PedsQL™ …

A Constructional Approach To Multimodal Linguistic Analysis, Fredy A. Mendieta Rodriguez

Spanish and Portuguese ETDs

This dissertation investigates the systematic organization of co‑speech gestures in referential communication, using data from Spanish‑speaking monolinguals and Spanish–English bilinguals. While traditional gesture research treats pointing as a universal phenomenon, the current analyses show that gestural productions display internal phonological patterning and context‑conditioned variability that parallels spoken constructions. Quantitative results demonstrate how referential distance and communicative context (find‑it versus misunderstanding situations) shape the selection of embodied phonological features—handshape, orientation, movement, and beats—revealing consistent associations between form and interactional demands. Qualitative analyses trace how gestural realizations reduce across discourse as shared understanding emerges. A new complexity metric, based on token frequency …

Corazones Urbanos: Literary Cartographies And Southwest Cities In The Mexican American Spatial Imaginary, Jorge A. Hernández Jr.

Spanish and Portuguese ETDs

Corazones Urbanos: Literary Cartographies and Southwest Cities in the Mexican American Spatial Imaginary examines how Mexican American writers from Tucson, San Antonio, and Albuquerque narrate, critique, and reimagine urban space across the U.S. Southwest in the twentieth century. Integrating literary studies, cultural geography, urban history, and critical regionalism, the project analyzes responses to racialized development, urban renewal, and gentrification that have displaced Mexican American communities from historic downtowns. Moving beyond borderlands and transnational models, it advances a critically regional approach attentive to local histories, municipal policies, and community pressures shaping urban life. Through close readings of creative and nonfiction texts …

Analysis Of The Relationships Between Students' Memory Ability And Cognitive Ability On Chemical Nomenclature, Yenni Kurniawati, Elsa Tria Monica, Nurul Aulya Nisya, Alfi Novriandri

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

Memory ability was needed thing that important to research in relationships and teachers’ effort in increasing learning quality. The research aimed at knowing  the correlation between students’ memory ability and cognitive ability at Islamic Senior High School of Al-Ihsan Boarding School Kubang Raya, Kampar. It was used mixed method design. Technique of colecting the data was used Quantitave method through memory test ability and cognitive ability test. Questionnaire, observation and documentation technique was used for collecting the data in quality. Subject of the research was students of Islamic Senior High School of Al-Ihsan Boarding School Kubang Raya, Kampar. Object …

Development And Preliminary Effectiveness Of Sel-Based Puzzle Media For Improving Emotional Regulation In Second-Grade Elementary Students, Kun Widya Nurfiani, Diana Septi Purnama

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

This study developed and evaluated the feasibility, practicality, and preliminary effectiveness of the Social Emotional Learning (SEL)-based Puzzle Expression Emotion media to improve emotional regulation among second-grade elementary school students. The study used a Research and Development design following the ADDIE model. Feasibility was assessed by subject-matter and media experts, practicality by classroom teachers, and preliminary effectiveness through a one-group pretest-posttest field trial involving 51 students from two public elementary schools in Surakarta. Data were collected through interviews, observations, validation sheets, practicality questionnaires, and an emotional regulation instrument. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, followed by a paired-sample t-test and N-gain …

Saying “Yes, And” To A Changing Legal Profession Through Improv, Ben Bratman

The Journal of Law Teaching and Learning

As legal practitioners confront the potent impacts of society’s latest technological innovation, legal education can and should say “yes, and” to all the change and uncertainty by leaning into the teaching of human skills. That’s “yes, and,” as in the guiding principle of improvisational theater, or improv. As a form of embodied learning through play, improv exercises are a proven tool for building and refining fundamental human skills, often called the “soft” skills, within a low-stakes learning environment. They can and should be a part of any law school’s effort to graduate confident and skilled communicators who are strong team …

Tracing Washback In Language Education: Theoretical Foundations And Policy Implications For Assessment Research-Practice Partnerships, Chia-Hsin Yin

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

Washback—the influence of testing on teaching and learning—has become a central concern in language education, with important implications for assessment design, classroom practice, and educational policy. This paper synthesizes foundational theories and empirical studies on washback, drawing on models by Alderson and Wall (1993), Bailey (1996), Green (2007), and others to examine how test effects operate across micro-level classroom practices and macro-level policy contexts. At the micro level, research on self-assessment, portfolio-based assessment, digital tools, and stakeholder perspectives illustrates how test formats, teacher agency, and learner interpretations shape instructional behavior and learning experiences. At the macro level, national policies, language …

Reviving The Sacred: Reintegrating Traditional Tantric Philosophies Into Modern Yoga And Meditation Practices, Cameron J. Geary

Denison Journal of Religion

No abstract provided.

Sacralized Violence And The Feminized Body In The Book Of Revelation, Caroline Shane

Denison Journal of Religion

No abstract provided.

Circulation Of Respiratory Viruses From Air And Human Specimens In A Pre-Kindergarten-12th Grade School District In Kansas City, Mo, Nicole Neeley, Brian Lee, Brittney Fritchmann, Luke Gard, Nibha Sagar, Dithi Banerjee, Anjana Sasidharan, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Olivia Almendares, Hannah L. Kirking, Jennifer Goldman, Jennifer E. Schuster

Research Showcase

Background:

As shown by the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic, respiratory viruses have significant impact to public health, morbidity, and mortality. Large scale viral surveillance within the community can be helpful in monitoring viral spread and disease patterns, but population level testing can be costly and time consuming. Air sampling with respiratory virus testing in community settings may be a potential non-invasive, scalable method to monitor respiratory viruses.

Objectives/Goal:

We performed an ecological analysis to describe the correlation between respiratory virus detections in air and human samples across pre-kindergarten-12^th grade schools to evaluate the potential for air sampling as a tool for …

Understanding The Psychological And Social Determinants Of Drunk Driving Recidivism, Mackenzie L. Miller

Aurora

Drunk driving continued to be a major public safety issue, and repeat offenses showed that punishment alone was not always effective. This study examined the psychological and social factors that contributed to drunk driving recidivism among college students, with a focus on impulsivity, risk perception, and peer influence. The goal was to better understand why some individuals continued to drive under the influence even after facing consequences. Data for this study were collected through a Qualtrics survey completed by 136 college students. The survey included questions about beliefs surrounding recidivism, levels of impulsivity, and experiences with peer pressure. Descriptive statistics …

Birth Control Use Alters Memory For A Stressful Experience, Julia N. Gross, Kristie Payment, Boyd R. Rorabaugh, Phillip R. Zoladz

Aurora

Hormonal birth control methods are widely used; however, some users suffer considerable side effects. Previous research suggests oral contraceptive users exhibit a blunted cortisol response to psychosocial stressors and alterations in emotional memory, including differential recall of emotional images and details of emotional stories. However, no studies have examined how birth control influences memory for a stressful experience.

The present study analyzes data previously collected from female undergraduate students. In this study, participants reported contraceptive use, then underwent a modified version of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) or the friendly-TSST (f-TSST). The TSST required participants to deliver a ten-minute, …

Variations In Moral Decision Making: In Morally Ambiguous Scenarios, Riley N. Eaton, Victoria Kempton, Edward Lansing, Troy R. Welker

Aurora

People are tasked with making decisions that often come with consequences, whether it be for someone else or themselves. Due to this, there is an ambiguity in understanding what is “right” and “wrong” in a given scenario. However, limited research has examined how interpersonal relationships and intensity of the punishment may affect this decision-making process. This study examines the effect of interpersonal closeness and punishment intensity on moral decision-making, defined in terms of fairness and empathy. Participants (N = 54) from a midwestern university were randomly assigned to one of three interpersonal closeness conditions (close friend vs. close friend, close …

Associations Between Mmpi-3 And Cape Scores: Measuring Psychosis Symptoms In A Non-Clinical Population, Tigis A. Applin, Ashlynne N. Wright, Andrew Kremyar, Megan R. Whitman, Yossef S. Ben-Porath Ph.D.

Aurora

Psychosis includes two major types of symptoms: positive (i.e., hallucinations, delusions, paranoia) and negative (i.e., flat affect, poverty of speech, lack of motivation). Psychosis is also frequently comorbid with depressive and other mood disorder symptoms. Differentiating positive, negative, and depression symptoms is important, as practicing clinicians may tailor treatments to specific presenting symptoms. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3) is a broadband measure of personality and psychopathology that includes scales that measure both psychosis and depression related symptoms. Prior studies indicate that scale scores on previous versions of the MMPI-3 can help with the differential diagnosis of depressive and psychosis-related …

The Academic Workplace Climate Measure: A New Instrument To Measure Counselor Education Faculty Climate, Ryan Holliman, Ryan D. Foster, Pedro Blanco

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Research indicates that between 32% and 62% of faculty in higher education have experienced some form of incivility (Cassell, 2011; Fox, 2010; Heffernan & Bosetti, 2020; Hollis, 2012; Keashly & Neuman, 2008; McKay et al., 2008). Incivility among faculty can be associated with declining health, decreased faculty retention, diminished self-esteem, and lowered psychological well-being (McClendon et al., 2021; Miner et al., 2012; Raskauskas & Skrabec, 2011). Although counselor educators are presumably experts in effective communication and conflict negotiation, anecdotal reports of conflict in counselor education departments are frequent. This study developed an instrument called the Academic Workplace Climate Measure. In …

Marginalization Experiences Of Chinese International Counseling Students In Social And Cultural Diversity Courses, Hsin-Ya Tang, Caiwei Tang, Hexin Bi, Qingyue Zhang

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

No abstract provided.

Analyzing Outcome Research In Aca Counseling Journals: A Content Analysis, Lisa Rickman, Marangelie Velez, Serene Hasan, Elizabeth Lugo, Sejal Barden

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

To assess the current state of evidence-based practices within counseling and counselor education, researchers conducted a comprehensive content analysis of outcome research published in counseling journals. Using quantitative methods to examine publication trends and frequency, the study reviewed 5,266 articles across 21 journals over a ten-year span (2013–2023), identifying 405 outcome studies for inclusion. Findings revealed a substantial gap in outcome research within professional counseling, particularly with respect to methodological diversity and representation of diverse populations. The authors emphasize the need for counselor educators and practitioners to prioritize outcome research to enhance clinical effectiveness and strengthen the profession. Furthermore, the …

Negotiating Professional Identity Development Across Contexts: A Collaborative Autoethnography, Clark D. Ausloos, Rebecca J. Vannest, Hayley Ostlund

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This collaborative autoethnography (CAE) explores how two counselor educators and one doctoral student navigate professional identity formation across three intersecting contexts: school counseling, clinical mental health counseling, and counselor education. Through critical reflection and collaborative analysis of focus-group data and individual reflections, we identify four themes: Career Flexibility & Adaptability, Identity Formation in Supportive and Restrictive Systems, Role Strain & Stigma, and Values-Driven Practices. Implications call for counselor education programs and higher education systems to embrace multiplicity, non-linear careers, redefine mentorship structures for doctoral students and faculty, and revise promotion criteria to value relationality, and creative, student- and community-engaged …

Understanding Counselor Burnout From An Ecological Systems Perspective, Stephanie Thorson-Olesen, Lisa Belknap, Emily Velidow, Jessica Gaul, Phoenix Rosewood, Nayara Aparecida Da Costa Silva Beall

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Using Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory as a guiding framework, this study explored the experiences of licensed counselors who self-identified as having recovered from burnout. Burnout was conceptualized as a prolonged response to chronic occupational stress, while participants were invited to describe their experiences based on their own lived understandings of the phenomenon. A qualitative thematic analysis was conducted using data collected through an anonymous online survey featuring open-ended prompts. Participants included 32 licensed counselors who graduated from CACREP-accredited programs and reported previously experiencing burnout and no longer identifying as currently burned out. Thematic analysis yielded nine interrelated themes encompassing contributors, …

Predicting Counseling Student Well-Being: The Role Of Faculty And Stress, Kendall G. Woods, Elizabeth K. N. Harper, Michell L. Temple

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Approximately one-third of Americans live in areas with limited access to mental health services, with only one mental health provider for every 350 people (Health Resources and Services Administration [HRSA], 2024; Reinert & Nguyen, 2022). The shortage of mental health providers persists as the need for services grows, a challenge compounded by the 40-60% attrition rate among counseling trainees (Chrzanowski, 2018). Improving counseling program completion is essential to address the mental health workforce shortage. While previous research has emphasized the importance of faculty support for graduate students (Estrada et al, 2019), little research has examined how faculty-student interactions and academic …

Counseling Supervision In Vocational Rehabilitation: An Integration And Extension Of The Discrimination Model And Critical Disability Theory, Nichole Tichy, Harvey C. Peters

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

As a specialized counseling discipline, vocational rehabilitation aims to support individuals with disabilities in obtaining integrated and competitive employment within their communities. Within the rehabilitation counseling profession, the practice of clinical supervision is considered an essential function of the job; however, most professionals report inadequate or nonexistent supervision within their professional settings. Research on this topic is scarce, and few clinical supervision models exist specific to the needs of rehabilitation counselors. In this manuscript, we present an adaptation of the discrimination model for counselors that incorporates vocational rehabilitation and critical disability theory to encourage the challenging and dismantling of ableism. …

Experiences Of Perceived Sexism Among Female Doctoral Counselor Education Students, Laura Smestad, Keiko Sano

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of sexism among female counselor education and supervision doctoral students. Fourteen participants completed a semi-structured interview. The following themes were identified: in-class experiences of sexism, intersection of gender and other identities, power differentials, exclusion, female networks, silence, lack of university support, and self-minimization.

Navigating The Borderlands: Testimonios Of First-Generation Chicanas In Counselor Education, Jessenia Garcia, Heather Trepal

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This research applies Anzaldúa’s (1987) Borderlands Theory to examine the testimonios of first-generation Chicana faculty in counselor education. A narrative methodology was employed (n=10), leading to the identification of several themes that illuminate their unique challenges and resilience. Four themes emerged: (a) balancing worlds: family and academia, (b) weaving identity into academia, (c) cultural identity in the borderlands, and (d) disrupting borders, including the subtheme: Red tape and higher ed mafia. These findings provide insight into the institutional barriers and identity navigation experienced by these faculty members. Recommendations for recruitment and retention are included.

Navigating The Intersection Of Artificial Intelligence And Counseling: Implications For Counselor Identity, Ethics, And Counselor Education, Anabel Mifsud, Barbara Herlihy

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This article examines the ethical, professional identity, and counselor education implications of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into counseling practice. As AI use expands in mental health care, it offers opportunities to enhance accessibility and efficiency while raising complex ethical concerns regarding competence, accountability, transparency, confidentiality, equity, and preservation of the therapeutic relationship. The authors explore how AI may reshape counselor roles and professional identity, underscoring the need to safeguard core values and the relational foundation of counseling. Recommendations are offered for adapting counselor education to prepare future practitioners for AI-augmented practice. The authors call for sustained, critical dialogue to ensure …

Practitioners’ Experiences Of Developmental, Individual Differences, Relationship-Based (Dir) Approach In Their Professional Practice With Neurodivergent Clients: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Ekaterina Sidor

Educational Studies Dissertations

This phenomenological study explores how professionals experience integrating the developmental, individual-differences, and relationship-based (DIR) framework in their work with neurodivergent clients. Although DIR is recognized as an evidence-based developmental approach in the field of autism support, little is known about how its integration affects practitioners themselves. Grounded in relational-cultural theory and transformative learning theory, the study examines how engagement with DIR influences practitioners’ professional practice and development. Using a qualitative, hermeneutic phenomenological design, data were collected through open-ended questionnaires and in-depth interviews with multidisciplinary professionals from diverse international contexts who completed DIRFloortime training and actively implement DIR in their work. …

Becoming Restorative: An Exploration Of Individual Journeys And The Professional Learning That Supports Them, Jessica Rae Madden-Fuoco

Educational Studies Dissertations

Restorative practices in K-12 schools have been studied primarily for their impact on school climate and discipline outcomes, yet little empirical or conceptual guidance exists for the professional learning that supports educators in becoming restorative. This study investigated three interconnected questions: How do individuals experience the process of becoming more restorative in their personal and professional lives? What key qualities characterize effective andragogy in the teaching of restorative practices? And how do educators perceive the impact of these qualities on their professional learning, development, and ability to use restorative practices in their classroom or school? This study employed two complementary …

The Efficacy Of Emotional Reframing As An Intervention To Promote Adult Transformational Growth, Linda Rossetti

Educational Studies Dissertations

This study investigates the underexplored relationship between adult developmental growth and emotions. Developmental growth requires an individual to respond to self-concept instability by adopting new meaning structures and navigating oppositional emotions. This quantitative study examined the relationship between an emotional reframing intervention and perspective shifts, an indicator of developmental progression. Data collected on three college campuses in the 2024-2025 academic year revealed a strong positive relationship between the intervention and perspective shifts, as evidenced by differences in pre- and post-assessment responses within the studied population, both in aggregate and in specific use cases. The findings contribute to three academic arenas: …

We Need To Do Better: Exploring Educators’ Perspectives Of Transformative Trauma-Informed Social-Emotional Learning, Heather Stay

Education Doctorate Dissertations

This qualitative, descriptive case study examined educators’ understandings, enactment, and professional learning related to transformative, trauma-informed social-emotional learning (SEL) practices in a center-based emotional support school setting. Data were collected through semi-structured educator interviews and classroom observations to capture a holistic view of pedagogical practices. Guided by the theoretical frameworks of Dis/Crit, Transformative Learning Theory, and Foucault’s Theory of Power, the findings illuminate how educators leverage trauma-informed SEL strategies to support students affected by trauma as they navigate structural and systemic constraints within a normative educational system. Results highlight both effective cultural-sustaining and trauma-responsive practices already in place, as well …