Digital Commons Network^™

A Parcel-Level Gis Analysis Of Development Disparities, Floodplain Exposure, And Building Growth In Texas Border Colonias, Dean Kyne, Bridget R. Scanlon, Yiming Zhang, Keri K. Stephens, Brent Porter, Wonhyun Lee, Aracelli V. Vegs

Sociology Faculty Publications

Colonias are historically underserved communities along the Texas–Mexico border facing infrastructure deficiencies, socioeconomic vulnerability, and environmental hazards. This study examines parcel-level development conditions across 66,160 properties in Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties, Texas. Property appraisal records, colonia boundaries and 2014 classifications, and geographic information system analyses were integrated to evaluate property values, platting, public service district coverage, floodplain exposure, and reconstructed building patterns from 1990 to 2025. These indicators represent physical and economic conditions associated with resilience rather than a comprehensive measure of community resilience. Results reveal variation among counties and 2014 baseline classification categories. Communities classified as Green …

Linking Emotion Dysregulation To Autistic Traits Across Neurodiverse Samples, Rachel G. Mcdonald, Mary Isaac Cargill, Emily Lynch, Sadaf Khawar, Caroline Freden, Erin Kang

Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Emotion dysregulation (ED) is defined as difficulty regulating emotions in response to activating situations, and subsequent difficulty choosing an environmentally appropriate strategy to modulate one’s emotions. Despite ED being identified as a transdiagnostic construct, little research has examined the links to constructs like social communication and interaction (SCI) and restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs). SCIs and RRBs are core components of neurodevelopmental conditions like autism, as well as other mental health conditions more broadly. This article sought to examine the effects of emotional dysphoria and emotional reactivity on SCI and RRBs. Caregivers of 99 youth (64 autistic) ages 6 to …

Toward Design-To-Fabrication Continuum For Open-Source Computational Robotic Ecologies In The Post-Anthropogenic Era, Celso Urroz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Computational design and robotic fabrication have expanded architecture’s capacity to coordinate geometry, material behavior, machine operation, and environmental performance. Yet many design-to-fabrication workflows remain structured by industrial logics of separation, standardization, and control. Design is often abstracted from material execution, fabrication is treated as a downstream phase, and robotic systems remain concentrated within specialized or proprietary infrastructures. This dissertation addresses this problem by proposing the design-to-fabrication continuum as an open, transferable, and ecologically situated framework in which computation mediates among design intent, matter, machine, environment, and shared technical knowledge.

The research uses a practice-based methodology combining computational workflow development, material …

The Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities Of Certified Anduncertified Medical Assistants In Medical Clinics: A Hermeneutical Phenomenology Study, Shannon Waller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutical phenomenological study was to explore how supervising clinicians, including medical doctors, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners, described the knowledge, skills, and abilities of certified and uncertified medical assistants in healthcare clinics in the United States. The problem was that it was unknown how supervising clinicians described the knowledge, skills, and abilities of certified and uncertified medical assistants. Becker’s human capital theory served as the theoretical framework for this study. Participants were recruited through professional social media platforms and clinician-specific online communities. Data collection included semi-structured interviews, a focus group, andwritten responses to a writing …

Evaluating The Efficacy Of State-Level Legislation In Mitigating Cyberattack Impacts And Victim Reduction, John Mark Norris

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative longitudinal study examined the effectiveness of state cybersecurity legislation by analyzing the relationship between five state-level legislative features: mandatory frameworks, enforcement actions, information sharing, mandatory cybersecurity training, and government incentives, and two cybersecurity outcomes: the number of cyberattack victims and resulting economic losses. Using data from all 50 U.S. states from 2017 through 2024, the study evaluated whether these legislative features were associated with measurable reductions in cyberattack impacts. The findings indicate that none of the five legislative features significantly reduced the ratio of cyberattack victims to establishments. For economic losses, enforcement actions were modestly and negatively associated …

A Study Of Combat Veterans Residing In Rural Communities Who Have Experienced Suicidality After Discharge, Kelly Muratorri

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of combat veterans residing in rural communities who experienced suicidal ideation following discharge from military service. The central research question guiding this study was, What are the lived experiences of combat veterans who reside in rural areas and have contemplated suicide since discharge? The theories guiding this study were Joiner’s interpersonal theory of suicide, which emphasizes perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and acquired capability for suicide, and Shneidman’s theory of psychache, which highlights the intolerable psychological pain that often is an underlying factor of suicidal behavior. Although there …

A Quantitative Causal-Comparative Investigation Of The Intrinsic Goal Orientation, Self-Efficacy For Learning And Performance, And Metacognitive Self-Regulation Among The Handwritten, Typed, Or No Note-Taking Strategies Of Korean University Students, Terrill Reid Mclain

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this non-experimental quantitative causal-comparative study was to determine if there was a difference in intrinsic goal orientation, self-efficacy for learning and performance, and metacognitive self-regulation between the choice of note-taking strategies of handwritten, typed, and no note-taking methods among Korean university students. This study is important because it adds to the discussion about whether a student's note-taking method reflects underlying differences in self-regulated learning. Using purposive and convenience sampling at a university in South Korea, 129 currently enrolled Korean undergraduate students were recruited and self-sorted into three groups based on their most used note-taking strategy for their …

Integrating Transformative Social-Emotional Learning In The Orchestra Classroom Of Title I Schools, Amy Valena Ellington

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this historical, secondary, qualitative study was to explore the evolution of integrating transformative Social-Emotional Learning in the music classrooms of Title I schools. The aim was to determine which social and emotional skills have been taught in the music classroom, what barriers have been encountered in integrating SEL, and which assessment measures have been used to evaluate the effectiveness of SEL integration. The CASEL model was used because it supports ongoing critical analysis to ensure students’ social and emotional needs are met. Music educators are uniquely poised to provide instruction to students and equip them with essential …

Spiritual Abuse: A Qualitative Study On The Lived Experience Of Survivors And Their Attachment To God, Danielle Farra Bingham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of Christian survivors of spiritual abuse and their relationship with God. The study also examined whether participants described those experiences using language comparable to Attachment Theory. Ten adult Christian survivors participated in semi-structured interviews, which were analyzed using Smith et al.'s (2022) interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) framework. Six Group Experiential Themes (GETs) emerged from the analysis: (a) wondering whether God was safe after sacred harm; (b) keeping God close enough to need Him and distant enough to survive; (c) trying to separate God's heart from the voices …

The Lived Experiences Of Secondary Teachers In Supporting Literacy Growth Among Students In Secondary School: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Emanuel Arboleda

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to explore the lived experiences of teachers in supporting literacy among secondary students at a suburban secondary school in Connecticut. The lived experiences of literacy limitations among students were generally defined as a lack of literacy resources or inconsistent literacy support across courses and grade levels. Bandura’s social cognitive theory guided this study, particularly regarding the cognitive, behavioral, and environmental experiences of teachers and their students’ literacy limitations. The Central Research Question was: What are the experiences of secondary teachers in supporting literacy growth among students? This transcendental phenomenological study on literacy …

A Quasi-Experimental Pilot Study On The Effects Of The Mindfulness Oriented Recovery Enhancement Program On Emotion Regulation In Individuals With Substance Use Disorders, Alex Rhodes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Those with substance use disorders (SUDs) often display difficulties in emotion regulation, which contributes to addictive behaviors and relapse. The purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental pilot study was to examine the effects of Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement program (MORE) on difficulties in emotion regulation and emotion regulation strategies among individuals with substance use disorders. Specifically, the study examined whether participation in an 8-week MORE program resulted in changes in (a) difficulties regulating emotions, as measured by the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and (b) emotion regulation strategies, as measured by the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). Participants (N = 9) enrolled …

Price Tags Of Goodwill: The Examination Of General Strain Theory And Official Behavior, Kathryn A. Loving

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Applying the theoretical framework of Agnew’s (1992) General Strain Theory, this project aimed to understand the connection between strain-induced responses and improper official behavior, considering an individual’s intersectionality (sexuality). Despite extant empirical data recognizing that justice officials' duties expose them to a barrage of human misery, vicarious trauma, and intense circumstances that negatively impact their psyche, little research exists about how compassion fatigue relates to improper official conduct. When culturally induced expectations become divorced from an official despite a coordinated institutional emphasis, negative police responses can jeopardize public service. Because criminal justice officials are the backbone of public safety, it …

Relationships Between Lower Body Anthropometrics And Vertical Force-Velocity Profiles In Collegiate American Football Players, Nicholus Adam Despot

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The study examined the relationships between lower-body anthropometric characteristics and vertical force-velocity profiles in collegiate American football players. Although the use of force-velocity profiling has increased significantly in recent years, there has been limited research on the association between structural features and key mechanical outputs. A sample of 16 NAIA football players was used to examine how skeletal breadths, girths, and derived ratios relate to key force-velocity metrics. Anthropometric variables were collected using ISAK standards, while force-velocity profiles were obtained through a series of loaded squat jumps on a force platform. Mean propulsive force, velocity and power were used to …

The Empathy Equation: Nontraditional Students Recruited With A Transformational Approach - A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Ashley E. Sempowski

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to examine the influence that individualized, student-centric, transformative recruitment and communication efforts had on university student choice for nontraditional students at a private four-year university. The theory guiding this study is Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, as it explains how an individual’s environmental system and contexts influence their human development and decision making, and how these developments can be seen as predictors of student choice, retention, academic preparedness, and performance. This hermeneutic phenomenological study was conducted through interviews, focus groups, and reflective writing prompts with 10 nontraditional students at a private, four-year university. …

Predicting Marching Band Ratings In Nebraska: A Quantitative Analysis Of Socioeconomic Status And Geographic Variables, Michael T. Genslinger

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although the high school marching band has been a tradition in the United States for nearly a century, it is becoming increasingly rare in many rural areas. Despite economic barriers, some rural schools have overcome the challenges of their location and built successful instrumental music programs. Research on rural music education is vital because most new music educators in Nebraska will begin their careers teaching in rural schools. A quantitative study examined marching band performance in Nebraska, a highly rural state. The study reviewed NSBA State Marching Contest overall ratings from 2015 to 2024, along with a socioeconomic profile of …

The Influential Integration Of Emotional Intelligence And Discipleship: A Thesis For The Degree Of Doctor Of Ministry, Shawna R. Willis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The end goal of this research was to create a training guide manual that integrates discipleship and emotional intelligence to introduce and educate believers on how God made them through the collation of three well-known emotional intelligence tools: temperament, personality, and skill strengths. The three validated assessments were Arno Profile Assessment from the National Christian Counseling Association, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and Gallup StrengthsFinder©. Participants completed five steps of intervention design that aimed to increase emotional intelligence with a final step of training that taught biblical tools and Scripture resources to manage emotions, make godly relational choices, and apply towards discipleship. …

Rural Veterans And Telemental Health: A Qualitative Descriptive Study, Raymond D. Herr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how rural veterans in northern Florida and southern Alabama described their reasons for not using telemental health services to address their mental health issues and how technology use influenced their decisions. The study was informed by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), which identifies factors associated with technology acceptance and use, and was grounded in a patient-centered axiological framework. The study included 12 rural veterans who had either never used or had discontinued telemental health services. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and focus groups and …

Exploring Missouri Teachers’ Experiences Regarding Rti Support Teams Before A Special Education Referral: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Malinka L. Buchanan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study is to interpret the lived experiences of elementary classroom teachers on Response to Intervention (RTI) support teams as part of a special education pre-referral process within a public school in Missouri. I used purposeful and snowball sampling to select elementary teachers who have participated on an RTI support team. The theory guiding this study is Bruner’s constructivist theory, as it relates to both pre-referral interventions and support teams, with the idea that the learning process happens as people construct their knowledge through creating relationships to prior knowledge, practicing trial and error, and growing …

Exploring Social Cognitive Learning In Simulation-Enhanced Interprofessional Education: A Case Study, William Nicholas Vasios Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this single-case design study is to explore the impact of observational and vicarious learning during simulation-enhanced interprofessional education (Sim-IPE) on the confidence and perceived self-efficacy of nursing students and IM residents at a southeastern university. Guided by Bandura’s social cognitive learning theory, which addresses the personnel, behavioral, and environmental factors of Sim-IPE, while answering the central research question: How does observational and vicarious learning during Sim-IPE impact participant confidence and perceived self-efficacy? This qualitative single-case study was conducted at a university in the southeastern United States, using data collected through visual confidence analog scale surveys, interviews, and …

Calling And Capacity: A Study Of Turnover, Performance, And The Moderating Role Of Leadership Support In U.S. Faith-Based Nonprofit Smes, Robert M. Frazier

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The U.S. nonprofit sector is a vital part of the national workforce and social service infrastructure. Within this sector, faith-based nonprofit SMEs must sustain mission impact while often operating under limited staffing, informal role structures, emotional labor, and significant leadership demands. The purpose of this fixed-design quantitative correlational study was to examine the problem of high turnover and reduced performance in U.S. faith-based nonprofit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The study measured emotional exhaustion, role ambiguity, turnover intention, perceived organizational performance, and perceived leadership support and tested whether perceived leadership support moderated the relationship between emotional exhaustion and turnover intention. …

Evaluating Administrative Strategies For Implementing Emergency Response Policies: A Public Administration Approach To Active Shooter Incidents, Christopher J. Ferro

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the proposed study is to address the persistent problem of ineffective implementation of emergency response policies for active shooter incidents within public agencies. Despite the development of numerous laws, public policies, and preventive measures aimed at mitigating such incidents, challenges remain in how such policies are administered and executed by public administrators. The proposed study will examine the administrative processes and strategies that shape how relevant policies are implemented and evaluated for effectiveness. The research will incorporate a qualitative design by examining case studies of successful and unsuccessful active shooter incident responses, conducting semi-structured interviews with public …

The Impact Of Blockchain-Linked Audit Trails And Stakeholder Feedback Loops On Ethical Adherence In The U.S. Federal And State Agencies, Leon Pikor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation explores the impacts of blockchain-based audit trails and stakeholder feedback loops on ethical conduct in U.S. federal and state public administration. The study addresses ongoing ethical problems in government, such as low levels of accountability, inadequate procedures, policy manipulation, and a waning public confidence in government, despite the existence of government ethics codes and oversight bodies. Ethical adherence is considered using two complementary theories: the virtue theory (Honesty, Fairness, Integrity, Responsiveness, Trust) and the deontological theory (Duty fulfillment, Rule following, Documentation, Accountability, Procedural compliance). The study was conducted with closed and open-ended answers from public administration participants who …

Exploring The Experiences Of African American Adults Utilizing Life Coaching And Their Attitudes Toward Counseling, Lakecia Wilson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of African American adults who have used life coaching services, as well as their attitudes toward counseling. The study focused on understanding these individuals’ experience with life coaching, the effects it had on them, and if their experience influenced them to attend counseling services. The study aimed to answer the following research questions: How do African American participants describe their experiences with life coaching? How do African American participants perceive the value of life coaching for their problems and issues? What re the participants’ perceptions and thoughts on …

Timothy Baptist Church Of Amherst, Virginia, And Technology, Christopher L. Groom

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The contemporary local church faces a critical crossroads, challenged by a widening gap between traditional ministry approaches and today's digital-native world, resulting in decreased engagement and relevance. This research tackles the urgent issue of ecclesiastical stagnation in a highly connected society. When the local church and technology strategically unite, they can dramatically shift the church’s path from static tradition toward active, missional innovation. Embracing digital tools will transform preaching from a localized, one-dimensional event into a rich, multi-layered homiletic experience that enhances message impact and clarity. By intentionally using these tools, the church can reach a wider, more diverse audience …

A Qualitative Phenomenological Study Exploring Middle School Special Education Teachers’ Experiences In Their Undergraduate Preparation Programs, Alfredia D. Simmons

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the perceived effectiveness of undergraduate educator preparation programs for special education teachers in middle schools in central Georgia. The theory guiding this study was transformative learning, as proposed by, which explored adult learning and the ways individuals reflected on experiences to shift their perspectives and develop new understandings. The central research question asked: How did middle school special education teachers perceive the effectiveness of their undergraduate preparation programs in relation to their current teaching responsibilities? This transcendental phenomenological study included 10 middle school special education teachers in central Georgia. Data were …

Leadership And Emotional Well-Being: A Qualitative Case Study In Higher Education, Qasem Varzideh

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The emotional well-being of tenured faculty members, which can include stress levels, job satisfaction, morale, and mental health, has been shown to directly influence faculty retention, student outcomes, and institutional performance. Despite the considerable body of research on leadership and faculty well-being, few studies focus specifically on how leadership practices and administrative policies influence the emotional well-being of tenured faculty members at public colleges. This qualitative single-case study examined the impact of institutional leadership practices and administrative policies on the emotional well-being of tenured faculty members at a large, multi-campus, publicly funded college in the Southeastern United States. The study …

Church Revitalization In A Southwest United States Retirement Community Church: A Case Study, Donald L. Fraser

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Eighty percent of churches in the United States are either plateaued or declining. Across all denominations, as many as 7700 churches permanently close their doors each year. Pastors of once-vibrant churches transition to survival mode rather than continuing to build their churches. However, there are bright spots where a declining church reverses the downward trend and begins a renewed cycle of growth. This case study examined church growth and revitalization of Southwest Community Church (the name has been changed to protect the identity of the participants), a revitalized church in a dedicated retirement community. For this research, revitalization has been …

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion: A Culturally Responsive Pedagogy Phenomenological Study, Paul Bagsby Iv

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of K–12 STEM teachers as they cultivated inclusive and diverse classrooms in alignment with culturally responsive pedagogy (CRP). Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory of learning guided the study. Purposeful sampling with maximum variation was used to recruit 10 secondary STEM teachers from public schools in Riverside County, Southern California. Data were collected through individual interviews, focus groups, and journal prompts and were analyzed using Colaizzi’s method. Seven themes emerged: CRP as an embedded and intentional practice; CRP as difficult but necessary work; student ownership as engagement; student reactions as …

The Impact Of Teaching Evolution In Central Arkansas: A Sequential Explanatory Mixed-Method Study, Danya L. Utley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this mixed-methods research was to assess the ethical implications that central Arkansas Christian science teachers faced when evolutionary theory was taught without critical examination. This study first collected data in a quantitative form to identify public high schools in Central Arkansas that taught evolutionary theory without presenting opposing views. This study then collected data in the qualitative form regarding Christian science teachers’ perceptions of the school system's alternative views contrary to evolution. The data was then analyzed to determine if teaching evolution without alternative views in Arkansas public high schools was considered either ethical or unethical. The …

The Impact Of Sexual Trauma On Survivor’S Affected Disposition, Savannah Fedorovich

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Sexually victimized women are an increasingly vulnerable population within our communities, states, and nations. Many survivors are experiencing a wide range of emotional and relational impacts on their overall well-being. The theoretical framework for this quantitative study will include Tracy and Robin's Model of Self-Conscious Emotion, Hellman’s Hope Theory, the Theory of Life Satisfaction, and Bowlby’s Attachment Theory. Additionally, sexually traumatized women and their emotional and relational functioning was conceptualized through multiple constructs and assessments, including the Adult Hope Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the Test of Self-Conscious Affect (TOSCA), and the Attachment Style Questionnaire – Short From …