Digital Commons Network^™

Intraday Price Bubbles And Their Influencing Factors: A Small- And Micro-Cap Analysis, Benjamin Sawyer

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores episodes of intraday stock price bubbles in small- and micro-cap stocks, a type of price bubble that is understudied in traditional financial literature. Stock price bubbles, marked by significant deviations of market prices from fundamental value, often cause undue harm to market participants and hinder the efficient allocation of capital. Despite their long history and recurring nature, the anatomy of price bubbles is still highly debated--their existence, causes, and impacts. Drawing on market efficiency, microstructure, and behavioral finance theories, the research applies a number of traditional and more recently developed statistical tests to detect intraday bubbles and …

Anchored In Faith, Soaked In Blood: Black Social Activists Strategies For Developing Equitable Policy In Education, Civil Rights, And Citizenship, Sharletta Michelle Green

Theses and Dissertations

Religious beliefs and the use of race to create a narrative of inferiority plague education, civil rights, and citizenship policy development and implementation, causing harm to Black citizens. Public education is the bedrock of a democratic society. Civil rights and the ability to exercise those rights within a country are vital elements of citizenship. A well-educated populace provides a country's position and power. Equitable education, civil rights, and the vestiges of full citizenship in the U.S. for Black people have been a constant battle. This fight has been at the forefront of the demands for this nation since Reconstruction. Black …

Parental Engagement In Distance Education: A Phenomenological Study Of Middle School Parents’ Perspectives During Unanticipated School Closures Due To Covid-19, Williams Alberto Olmedo

Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic, a significant disruptor of traditional educational environments, has led to a notable shift in parental involvement in children’s education, particularly in middle schools. This study, therefore, delves into the dynamics of parental engagement during remote learning, focusing on the challenges parents faced and the strategies they employed to support their children's academic needs. The research questions aimed to understand how parents adapted their involvement in their children’s education during the pandemic, and the study also scrutinized successful communication strategies between parents and schools.

Data was collected through interviews with 11 middle school participants to understand how parents …

Differences In The Neurological Functioning Of Females And Males During The Human Sexual Response Cycle: A Quantitative Systematic Review, Zachary Larson

Theses and Dissertations

The psychology field recognizes differences between females and males. Yet, there is a lack of research examining neurobiological sex differences, and a sophisticated understanding of neurobiological contributors that explain these sex differences related to sexuality is lacking. An integrative systematic review of the literature examined differences in the neurological functioning between females and males during the human sexual response cycle (SRC). This study investigated sex differences and commonalities in regional neural activation during the four stages of the human SRC (i.e., excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution). The main result of this study is that the differences between females and males …

Faculty Support And Resource Seeking, A Collective Experience Amid The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective, Amber Victoria Stokes

Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to capture collective faculty experiences of adapting to teaching entirely or partially online during the three years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The literature suggests that emergency remote teaching (ERT) was only a temporary stopgap for higher education institutions and faculty to move instruction online early in the pandemic (Hodges et al., 2021). Before the initial move to being entirely online in March 2020, higher education institutions had already lagged compared to other industries in providing digitally driven, outcomes-focused business models (Gallagher & Palmer, 2020). Therefore, it is no surprise that higher education leadership, faculty, and staff faced …

Cultivating Change: School Leaders Implementing Dei Systems In K-12 Schools, Rosalyn Simone Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in K-12 education are essential to creating an educational environment where every student, staff member, and stakeholder brings unique perspectives, experiences, and skills. K-12 schools are embracing DEI systems as an expression of their diverse populations, cultivating a school culture that celebrates differences and develops an affinity for inclusion. Equity, as the foundation, guarantees all students equal access to opportunities and resources, regardless of their background. Inclusion goes beyond mere representation to make everyone feel appreciated, heard, and empowered. School leaders inspire the school community by fostering a collective vision and dedication to DEI. Establishing …

The Strong Black Woman Schema, Wellness Outcomes, And Mental Health Interventions: An Integrative Systematic Review, Breanna Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Black women have a unique sociocultural and historical context that impacts their health. Research indicates that the Strong Black Woman schema (SBWS) can serve as a coping strategy for the specific array of stressors faced by Black women. The primary aim of this integrative systematic review was to explore the associations between Strong Black Woman schema and wellness/health outcomes, and to review the available or emerging SBWS-related interventions targeting wellness and mental health for Black women. This review posed the questions: (1) What health/wellness outcomes have been identified or hypothesized to be related to the SBWS? (2) What relationships between …

Empowering Black Women Professors Teaching Within Predominantly White Institutions: Exploring Success Strategies And Best Practices Amidst Challenges, Wendy Perkinson

Theses and Dissertations

Throughout the historical journey of Black women in America, spanning from enslavement (Best, 2015) to activism as abolitionists, advocates for women's suffrage (Sesko & Biernat, 2010), and leadership in civil rights (Rushing, 2021), Black women's resilience shines through amid challenges. This study investigates the phenomenological experiences of Black women professors teaching in predominantly white institutions (PWIs) who are often marginalized because of racial and gender intersectional bias (K.W. Crenshaw, 2017). It explores the challenges these professors endure and examines the success methods they employ to overcome their challenges while discovering their needs for personal and professional success. The study's framework …

Pivotal Moments Of Change For First Generation High Income Earners, Claudette Renae Simon

Theses and Dissertations

This narrative research study explored the role of Pivotal Moments of Change (PMOC) experiences in the lives of First-Generation High-Income Earners (FGHIEs). Through retrospective storytelling in virtual Semistructured interviews with six FGHIEs, this qualitative study validated the Pivotal Moments of Change conceptual model designed for this study. The model features five elements: antecedents, experience, change, action, and impact. The data also revealed six emergent themes which included that trajectory changes in the lives of FGHIEs may be singular occurrences or multilayered events that consist of epiphanies, decisions, or PMOC that build upon each other. That environment plays a major role …

A Phenomenological Study Of Teachers' Perception Of Professional Development Sessions Focused On Artificial Intelligence: Utilizing The Tpack Framework To Address The Professional Development Needs Of Teachers, Xuanyi Chen

Theses and Dissertations

AI-enabled educational tools have great potential for enhancing learning and teaching, yet there is a notable lack of study on AI-focused professional development for K-12 teachers. This phenomenological study employed the TPACK framework to examine teachers' incorporation of AI and engagement in professional development activities. The use of a social constructivism framework explored teachers' views on knowledge, learning, and motivation. Data were collected from 12 K-12 teachers across various districts in a large metropolitan area who attended AI professional development sessions in their own context and from that experience created AI artifacts. Primary data included (a) semistructured interviews, (b) professional …

Promoting Interaction In The Hybrid Learning Environment: Challenges And Solutions For International Students In Higher Education, Yi Lu

Theses and Dissertations

In the years 2020 and 2021, a total of 1,142,352 international students pursued their higher education degrees in the U.S. (SEVIS, 2022), many learning in English for the very first time. International students benefit from interaction in the classroom to support their learning and continued English language development (Loewen & Sato, 2018). The interaction hypothesis (IH) is a helpful lens to consider language interaction in a variety of learning environments (Long, 1996). More specifically, the IH suggests that modifications and negotiations made during conversational interaction help language learners process input. Although the IH has traditionally focused on the traditional face-to-face …

Racialized Lived Experience And Equitable Decision-Making Among Philanthropic Leaders: A Narrative Inquiry, Janae Asali Oliver

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored the influence of racialized lived experiences (RLEs) on equitable decision-making among philanthropic leaders, employing a narrative inquiry approach. It examined how diversity within philanthropy, beyond tokenistic representation, can introduce a wide range of perspectives that enhance equitable decision-making processes. The study emphasized the significance of RLEs in philanthropic leadership and decision-making, despite potential institutional constraints on grant processes. Twenty philanthropic leaders from various backgrounds, including private and family foundations, community foundations, and corporate social responsibility initiatives, participated in the study. Utilizing a critical race conceptual and theoretical framework, the researcher analyzed philanthropic leader’s narratives of race, …

Is It In The Job Description? Best Practices For School Psychologists’ Advocacy For Systemic Change Benefiting Black Students, Taylor Manuel Moore

Theses and Dissertations

School psychologists can be essential team members in driving systemic change towards achieving educational fairness, as their experiences, perspectives, and actions significantly contribute to this effort. This qualitative phenomenological study delved into an in-depth investigation of the lived experiences of school psychologists who have committed themselves to advocating for transformative changes that have a direct influence on the educational paths of Black students. The research design entailed conducting in-depth interviews with practicing school psychologists who have actively engaged in advocacy campaigns. The objective of phenomenological inquiry was to reveal the fundamental nature of individuals' experiences, providing insight into the obstacles …

From Virtual Gaming To Virtual Teams: Best Practices For Leading Diverse Virtual Teams In A Global Organization, Tianshi Hao

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates virtual leadership within video game environments and its transferability to real-world virtual team management. Employing quantitative ethnography and epistemic network analysis, the study explores the leadership behaviors observed in MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) and OFPS (Online First Person Shooting) game genres, drawing parallels with global virtual team management in corporate settings. The findings reveal that Squad-Based Game Leaders (SGLs) and Organizational-based Game Leaders (OGLs) employ a mix of authoritarian and democratic leadership styles to navigate both the tactical and strategic demands of their teams. SGLs focus on tactical decisions utilizing real-time data and player feedback …

Best Practices For Coaching Secondary School Teachers To Provide Social And Emotional Learning Support To Students, Vailet Yarijanian

Theses and Dissertations

Consequential to the COVID-19 global pandemic, widespread school closures ensued, profoundly affecting secondary school students' academic, social, and psychological well-being. Simultaneously, the academic year of 2020-2021 witnessed a notable surge in the departure of public school teachers, with nearly half opting to resign. This exodus was primarily attributed to the heightened stress associated with virtual instruction and the inadequate provision of mental health resources for educators and students. This dissertation sought to elucidate best practices for instructional coaches collaborating with secondary school teachers to develop a comprehensive toolkit for instilling social and emotional learning competencies within classroom environments. The contagious …

Putting The “Proof” In The Pudding: Ingredients To Consider In Executing An Effective And Sustainable Diversity Management Strategy Within Esg Conscious Organizations, Diamond D. Dubose

Theses and Dissertations

ESG exchange-trade fund inflows increased to a total of 22 billion dollars in 2020; three times their amount as compared to 2019, reflecting increasing capital market prominence (Wagner & Ballentine, 2020). Many organizations have since engaged in DEI practices because of the appeal Environment, Social, and Governance (also known as ESG) investment ratings provide (Henisz et al., 2019). However, companies must go beyond publishing organizational commitments to diversity to ‘check the box’ if they want to remain in the good graces of their internal and external stakeholders, ultimately validating their financial performance (S. J. Singh, 2021). An obstacle also emerged …

A Quantitative Analysis Of Empathy Trait As A Moderator Of Leadership Behavior, Barbara N. Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

There are indications that empathic concern for others has been declining around the world (Konrath et al., 2014). Empathy has long been recognized as a component of social functioning that significantly influences behavior that impacts relationships with others on both personal and societal levels (Batson, 2009; Davis, 2017; M. L. Hoffman, 2000; Stilwell, 2001). Leaders who apply empathy in their leadership can promote stronger connections with others (Gentry & Sadri, 2007), and foster social closeness and well-being (Morelli et al., 2015). While traits and behaviors are helpful predictors of effective leadership (Judge & Piccolo, 2004; Mumford et al., 2000), there …

Teaching First-Generation Newcomers In Charter High Schools: Teachers’ Perceptions Of Students’ Barriers, Teaching Practices And Strategies, And Teaching Supports, Daniel Loh

Theses and Dissertations

Teachers in the United States are experiencing challenges linked to the increasing number of immigrant students entering schools. Los Angeles County Charter schools are among the country's most diverse, with many immigrant students. Although first-generation and immigrant students’ education barriers and teacher challenges are documented, little is known about teachers' experiences with newcomer students, a particularly vulnerable group. This phenomenological study explored charter high school teachers’ lived experiences concerning their teaching challenges and perspectives on the barriers for first-generation/newcomer immigrant students, their descriptions of the strategies and practices used, and their perceptions of the support they receive. Twelve teachers from …

Building Resilience, Navigating Crises Since 2019: A Phenomenological Study Of Leadership Factors Influencing Retail Business Owners In Lebanon, Mira Fadel

Theses and Dissertations

The Lebanese population and culture are recognized for their resilience when facing adversity withstanding events such as the Lebanese Civil War, and multiple country invasions. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of retail business owners from different geographical regions and retail types in Lebanon and to identify the leadership factors that kept them resilient while navigating the compounding crises since 2019. The leadership factors included leadership styles, strategies, and agility. The conceptual framework encompassed all leadership factors, the retail industry, cultural context, and resilience. Data for this hermeneutic phenomenology was collected through semi-structured interviews followed …

Understanding Needs: Facilitating Faculty Support For Formal Assessment Processes In Higher Education, Terrance Cao

Theses and Dissertations

Prior literature discusses how conflicting beliefs regarding assessment, competing workloads, and a lack of formal assessment resources may contribute to faculty reluctance to engage with formal assessment processes. There is a gap in research on exploring assessment leader-faculty relationships through the lens of Leader-Member Exchange Theory and how that may affect participation in formal assessment processes. To address this gap, the researcher implemented a qualitative, phenomenological study to interview faculty about their lived experiences in working with formal assessment processes and interacting with assessment leaders. The goal was to discover emerging thematic categories regarding faculty perceptions of formal assessment processes …

Development Of Leader Voice And Leader Silence Scales: How And Why Leaders Choose To Remain Silent Or Speak Up During Situations Of Workplace Aggression, Katherine L. Dickins

Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to investigate the factors that drive leaders to speak up or remain silent when witnessing workplace aggression and to develop scales to measure leader voice and leader silence. While research on employee voice and silence exists, leader voice and silence need more theoretical development. I used an exploratory sequential mixed-method design to address these gaps. Subjects: Study one included 26 graduate management students and 35 leaders across multiple industries in the United States who witnessed workplace aggression in their unit. Study 2 included 345 people who supervised others at work. Instruments: Seven open-ended questions asking respondents to …

Exploring The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Suicidality In College And University Students: A Systematic Review, Tatyana Aposhian

Theses and Dissertations

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and suicidality are highly prevalent and increasing social problems among the college and university student population, thereby underscoring a need to better understand the relationship between ACEs and suicidal risk, ideation, and attempts during college. There is also a need to examine current suicide prevention and intervention programs for the extent to which they are ACE- and/or trauma-informed. The purpose of this quantitative systematic review with narrative synthesis is to elucidate findings regarding the relationship between ACEs and suicidality in undergraduate and graduate students across the globe and provide recommendations for future ACE-informed suicide prevention and …

Photovoice As A Reflective Pedagogy For Undergraduate Community Psychology Students, Shereé Bielecki

Theses and Dissertations

This descriptive qualitative study was designed to understand the experiences of former Community Psychology (CP) undergraduate students who participated in a degree program at a California university. The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore how former Community Psychology undergraduate students describe their experiences using reflective Photovoice activities to learn about and become involved in social justice. The theoretical frameworks that informed this study were in social justice theory, pedagogical practices related to teaching social justice using Photovoice, and the practice of self-reflection in college classrooms. Two primary research questions guide the inquiry: 1) How do former Community Psychology …

How Political Elite Leverage Twitter To Polarize America, Woodson Morris Hobbs V

Theses and Dissertations

While social media has changed how humans use the internet, Twitter has drastically reformed how individuals worldwide receive their news. As news outlets fail to keep up with the rapid dissemination of information online, Twitter has become a sounding board for the political elite who leverage the platform's immediacy and virality. This study, using Quantitative Ethnography's Epistemic Network Analysis, seeks to determine if the political elite, specifically members of Congress, are leveraging Twitter to spread polarizing information to strengthen their base. In this study, extensive coding of select members of the 118th Congress was completed and compared to Voteview.com's DW-Nominate …

Leadership In Social Service Non-Profit Organizations: An Interpreative Phenomenlogical Analysis Of Executive Leadership High Attrition Levels And Proposals For Change, Stephanie Fredericka Wanza

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to address how leaders who are employed at non-profit organizations can utilize change management frameworks, leadership style, strategic planning and organizational best practices to reduce attrition levels at their organizations. The focus of this study is three-fold: a) to understand why high attrition takes place at non-profits; identify what change model/s, types of leadership styles and best practices can be effective in reducing leader attrition, b) explore the development of a leadership framework by understanding how to manage change at nonprofits through the Carnall (1986), Shields (1999) and Cummings and Worley (2009) change management …

Examining The Experiences Of Dei Practitioners: A Look At The Racial Disparity In Policing Of Black People And The Subsequent Need For Adaptive Leadership, Lashawn Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

For centuries, Black people in the U.S. have had to navigate structural and institutional racism. This is especially true for the system of policing, which evolved from pre-emancipation slave patrols. Though law enforcement agencies have made strides in the past 160 years, Black people continue to be targeted and killed by police at a disproportionate rate. Evidence shows that DEI training initiatives within policing often fail to reduce this racial disparity that exists in policing. Yet, improved training outcomes surrounding racial relations continues to be a priority. The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to examine the experiences of …

The Benefits Of Voluntary Disorienting Dilemmas For A Transformational Life: A Grounded Theory Study In Transformational Learning, Rebecca Bamberger

Theses and Dissertations

Being uncomfortable by choice as a means of personal growth has been touted for hundreds of years among scholars, philosophers, religious leaders, modern pop culture icons, and more. Yet, research pertaining to the benefits of being uncomfortable by choice is sparse. This qualitative, grounded theory study addressed the first step of transformational learning: the disorienting dilemma. Seventy participants located in America participated in extensive interviews to answer this study’s research question, “what if any, are the benefits of voluntary disorienting dilemmas?” Additional research questions, “what is the meaning(s) of voluntary disorienting dilemmas?” and “would subjects repeat their voluntary disorienting dilemmas …

The Connection Between Mental Illness And Prisoner Recidivism: A Study Of The Self-Perceptions And Perspectives Of Mentally Impaired Low-Level Non-Violent Male Exoffenders, Sammie L. Stinson

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the connection between mental illness and prisoner recidivism in California and Los Angeles County. As the literature review discloses, there are various theories that claim to explain why mentally impaired offenders are reincarcerated for breaking the law after they are released. This dissertation presents five research questions based on the literature review and theoretical framework and collected survey and interview data from a sample of 30, self-reported, mentally impaired ex-offenders. The research questions and theoretical framework is intended to provide the reader with an assessment of the viewpoints of the mentally impaired survey participants regarding the connection …

A Systematic Review Of Risk And Protective Factors For Mental Health Among Latinx College Students, Melissa Gavilanes

Theses and Dissertations

A quantitative studies systematic review with narrative synthesis was conducted to explore the risk and protective factors among Latinx college students’ mental health. This systematic review also aimed to identify the relevant demographic variability to the mental health of Latinx college students, and the relationship between mental health and academic performance within this population. Data was collected from four electronic databases and included peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2022, conducted within the United States, participants over the age of 17, and samples comprised of or including Latinx college students. Studies utilizing quantitative designs, and quantitative portions of mixed method …

Exploring The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Adolescent Mental Health: An Integrative Systematic Review, Ruth Maouda

Theses and Dissertations

An integrative systematic review was conducted to understand the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent mental health and to identify what contributing risk and protective factors increased or decreased the likelihood that these mental health outcomes were experienced among adolescents, including those from diverse and vulnerable communities. Furthermore, this review examined interventions and coping strategies identified within the literature that were beneficial in mitigating these harmful pandemic-related effects. Methods. Data was collected from five electronic databases and included peer-reviewed, English-language articles published between 2020-present in the United States, comprised of adolescent participants aged 11-19. All studies were required …