Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Exploring Communication Preferences And Experiences Of First-Generation Students: Bridging Psychological Distance With Librarians In Online, Hybrid, And In-Person Library Environments—An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Sabine Jean Dantus

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation explored the preferred communication methods for reducing the psychological distance between librarians and 17 first-generation students (FG004 – FG020), including graduate and undergraduate participants in the University Libraries’ online, hybrid, and in-person environments. Through interpretative phenomenological analysis, eight themes emerged, illustrating how participants' communication preferences, cultural and linguistic demands, financial obstacles, and early library experiences affected their communication expectations with librarians.

The findings revealed a dichotomy between in-person and online communication preferences, with participants valuing both the immediacy and social presence of face-to-face interactions and the convenience of online tools like chat services. Cultural and linguistic familiarity …

A Study Of K-5 Teacher Perceptions Of Home Visits On Attitude, Belief, And Behavior, Dene E. Gainey

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the qualitative descriptive study was to explore teacher perceptions of attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs as it pertained to home visits. The body of research available prior to the study focused on parent appreciation and takeaways from home visit experiences and/or students’ achievement as it pertained to having experienced a teacher coming into their home environments. Specifically, the researcher wanted to understand how K-5 teachers perceived their attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs prior to conducting home visits, during home visits and after the home visits were completed.

Through semi-structured interviews, participants were asked a series of questions that were …

Assessing The Needs Of Elementary School Students From Low Socioeconomic Environments Displaying Poor Performance In Reading, Reynaldo Flores

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation was designed to provide current information on the low reading level of students in Grade 4 who are from families of low socioeconomic status (SES). While it was known that SES is crucial to student learning which gave rise to initiates to address the problem, low SES students in elementary school continue to struggle to read at grade level. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is used to measure performance index framework in reading along with mathematics, writing, science, and social studies to address and correct deficiencies. The data for the ESSA was drawn from the State of …

Exploring Human Resources Practices And Challenges To Retain And Develop Millennial Workers For Future Leadership Roles In The Transportation And Logistics Industry: A Phenomenological Perspective, Graciela Pineda-Blasco

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation examined Human Resources practices in place in the Transportation and Logistics industry aimed at the retention, and development of millennial talent into future corporate leaders in the industry. Despite extensive literature on millennials, there remains ambiguity regarding their specific traits, behaviors, and commitment within corporate settings.

Given the generationally diverse workforce, it is crucial to understand the unique needs and expectations of different cohorts. This study focuses on millennials' communication styles, technological adaptability, and expectations for training and advancement. The findings highlight significant issues in current corporate culture, particularly in HR retention and training strategies, which are …

A Qualitative Study: Sex Offenders’ Perceptions Of The State’S Sex Offender Registry, Ann Marie Elliott

Theses and Dissertations

Sex offender registries (SOR) were created because of gruesome crimes committed against minors and the vulnerable, and they serve as a punishment. Empirically, SORs have become more functional over the years, so providing accurate information should be fundamental. It is the topic of discussion in many conversations, specifically during holidays and events involving minors, and it is used for background searches and ongoing investigations. Consequently, society expects the information displayed to be precise. Inaccurate information can potentially be harmful, especially to sex offenders. Nevertheless, when SOR is mentioned, rightfully so, society, including law enforcement, immediately exhibits sympathetic emotions for the …

Examining The Intersection Of Policing And Mental Health: Analyzing Baker Act Admissions In Davie, Florida, Matthew Goodnow

Theses and Dissertations

This study focused on the Police Department of the City of Davie, Florida. It analyzed the rate of involuntary admissions under the Florida Mental Health Act, commonly known as the Baker Act, focusing on factors such as officer experience, training, demographics, and other variables. Using descriptive and inferential statistics, the research provides insights into Baker Act admissions to inform policies and interventions to improve mental health services and relieve strain on law enforcement resources.

Key findings indicate that Crisis Intervention Team training significantly increases the likelihood of officers performing Baker Acts. In contrast, more experienced officers tend to perform fewer …

Exploring Mental Health Stigma Among Law Enforcement Officers, Nicholas David Chestnut

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation investigates the prevalence and impact of mental health stigma among law enforcement officers (LEOs) in the United States. Despite growing awareness of the importance of mental health in the law enforcement community, stigma surrounding mental illness remains a significant barrier to help-seeking behaviors among officers. The study employed a research design that examined attitudes, perceptions, and experiences related to mental health stigma among LEOs.

Through online self-assessment surveys administered via a secure portal, participants provided insights into their attitudes toward mental illness, perceptions of stigma, and willingness to seek help for mental health concerns.

Data analysis revealed …

Diversidad De Enfoques Del Liderazgo Transformacional En Instituciones Educativas: Una Revisión Sistemática, Néstor Amado Cárdenas

Theses and Dissertations

El liderazgo transformacional por la amplitud en su definición ha sido hasta la fecha uno de los estilos más discutidos o investigados a nivel mundial, tanto en el ámbito académico como empresarial. Originalmente concebido como producto de la influencia que el líder ejerce sobre sus seguidores, muchos autores amplían esta idea a otra en la que este estilo de liderazgo es producto de diversos factores aledaños al de la influencia del líder como las cualidades del líder, la estructura de la organización o prácticas organizacionales, la cultura imperante tanto dentro como fuera de la misma, o hasta en la sociedad …

Percepción Sobre Los Factores Que Inciden En La Utilización De La Plataforma De Microsoft Teams En Tiempos De Pandemia, Jessica Rosa Domenech

Theses and Dissertations

El diseño de investigación fue de naturaleza exploratorio con un enfoque fenomenológico correspondiente al paradigma cualitativo. Se utilizó la entrevista en profundidad para obtener la información. Los hallazgos relevantes demostraron que Los factores internos que incidieron en el uso del Microsoft Team incluyeron la disposición y competencia tecnológica de los maestros, su nivel de familiaridad con la plataforma y su capacidad para integrarla en su metodología de enseñanza. Los factores externos, la disponibilidad de recursos tecnológicos y acceso a Internet en las escuelas y hogares de los estudiantes es un aspecto importante que puede influir en la utilización de TEAMS. …

Methodologizing Transnationality: Relational Writing As Collective Inquiry, Sun Young Lee, Minhye Son, Taeyeon Kim, Jin Kyeong Jung, Soo Bin Jang

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

How can we take transnationality as a space of in-betweenness to generate new possibilities, moving beyond geographically bounded spans between countries? This article presents five authors’ collective inquiry on transnational positionalities, which we practiced through the relational, transformative, and reflective writing of the self in a community space. We staged the collaborative writing into two processes: the emergent process of thematic writing and the relay writing. Interweaving “I” and “we” voices that cannot be captured through categorical thinking, our collaborative quest resists normative identity politics, proposing writing as a method of collective inquiry for the nuanced understanding of the transnationality …

Navigating Emotional Discomfort In Developing Equity-Driven School Leaders: A Conceptual-Pedagogical Framework, Taeyeon Kim, James Wright

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

Abstract

Background: Given that K–12 schools necessitate leaders who can advance equity and justice, preparation programs in higher education institutions have prioritized the development of eq-uity-oriented school leaders. However, there has been relatively limited exploration of peda-gogical approaches that equip educational leaders to navigate adverse emotional responses and utilize their discomforting emotions as a source of transformation toward equity-oriented principles. When negative emotions are suppressed and/or unexplored within leadership de-velopment programs, adult learners will likely miss crucial opportunities for personal growth and transformative change.

Purpose: This theoretical article aims to enhance and expand existing scholarship on the ped-agogies …

Listen Up: Perceptions Of Audiobooks By Teachers, Librarians, And Parents, Megan Bright

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Reading is a critical component of education. From learning to read, to eventually reading to learn, students and teachers rely upon texts to help make sense of the world around them. Methods and tools vary, but teachers, librarians, and parents can all agree that reading is a fundamental skill their students need. However, students are sometimes told to limit their use of audiobooks in favor of reading with their eyes. These limitations may prevent students from finding the books they love and also limit students’ opportunities to use books to learn about the world around them. This study sought to …

Intrinsic Motivators For Participation And Persistence In Intercollegiate Athletics, Kevin Saal

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Since its inception, intercollegiate athletics’ conflicting existence vacillates between a history of rich, co-curricular and developmental experiences for young people, and a multi-billion-dollar industry transformed by limitless commercialization, expense and exploitation. The “professionalization” of intercollegiate athletics and blurring of motivational factors influencing participation and persistence threatens its holistic academic and developmental purpose (Duderstadt, 2000, p. 78). This dissertation provides a review of motivational theories, in addition to summarizing numerous contextually relevant intrinsic and extrinsic regulators impacting human behavior. Through a quantitative research methodology this study proposes research broadly investigating intrinsic motivation, seeking to develop a better understanding and establish …

Effect Of On-Duty Resistance Training On Neuromuscular Function In Structural Firefighters, Jamal L. Thruston

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Participation in on-duty exercise is critical to enhance firefighter safety and readiness. However, these sessions are often interrupted with emergency responses and require firefighters to work in a fatigued state that may increase injury risk. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the impact of on-duty resistance training on neuromuscular function. A sample of 18 firefighters (Age: 38.8±8.0yr; Body fat: 24.9±7.0%) completed 3 testing sessions, separated by at least 72 hr to compare the effects of circuit (CT) versus heavy resistance training (HRT) fatigue on neuromuscular function. During Session 1, anthropometrics and familiarization trials of balance and neuromuscular …

Microaggressions And Their Impact On The Neurodiverse College Experience, Audre J. Knecht

Theses and Dissertations

Previous literature indicates that people with invisible disabilities (including neurodiversity) are at an increased risk of ableist microaggressions, especially on college campuses. Neurodivergent college students (N=13) were interviewed about their college experiences at a midwestern university in the United States. While only a few students reported experiencing microaggressions, there were overall themes of mistreatment from their instructors, watching other students experience microaggressions, feelings of depression, anxiety, and hopelessness, and the desire to mask neurodivergent traits to feel accepted at their university.

Midwest Midlevel Professionals' Perspective On Their Entry-Level Experience: Supervisor Leadership And Its Effect On Employee Retention, Joseph Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

For the past three decades, new professionals have been leaving the student affairs field at alarming rates, with around 50% departing within five years of completing their master’s degrees. While numerous studies have explored the reasons behind this exodus, few have examined why the other 50% remain. Moreover, limited research has investigated how servant leadership impacts the retention of these professionals. This basic interpretive qualitative study aimed to understand how leadership’s focus on employee needs influences retention, using the lived experiences of eight mid-level student affairs professionals from large public institutions in the Midwest, each 5-7 years post-master’s degree. Thematic …

Sharing Stories Of Hope And Transformation In U.S. Higher Education: An Ereader By Portland State University Students, Óscar Fernández, David Peterson Del Mar

PDXOpen: Open Educational Resources

This eReader showcases stories of hope and transformation written by diverse students enrolled in University Studies courses at Portland State University. The goal is to motivate first-year and transfer students to see that, in higher education, they are not alone in their personal, familial, and academic struggles—and personal, familial, and educational achievements.

It’S About Time, Part Ii: Does Time Poverty Contribute To Inequitable College Outcomes By Gender And Race/Ethnicity?, Claire Wladis, Alyse C. Hachey, Katherine M. Conway

Publications and Research

Existing research demonstrates gender- and race/ethnicity-based inequities in college outcomes. Separately, recent research suggests a relationship between time poverty and college outcomes for student parents and online students. However, to date, no studies have empirically explored whether differential access to time as a resource for college may explain differential outcomes by gender or race/ethnicity. To address this, this study explored the relationship between time poverty, gender or race/ethnicity, and college outcomes at a large urban public university with two and four year campuses. Time poverty explained a significant proportion of differential outcomes (retention and credit accumulation) by gender and race/ethnicity. …

Unravelling The Wellbeing Needs Of Australian Teachers: A Qualitative Inquiry, Narelle Lemon, Kristina Turner

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The declining wellbeing of Australian teachers is a longstanding problem, with much attention on retention, stress, burnout, and poor resourcing and conditions that impact wellbeing. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has further illuminated these challenges. This qualitative study aimed to explore Australian teachers’ perceptions of their wellbeing needs with a focus on asking the questions that are often not asked—what is working, what are we learning, and how can we move forward to support teacher wellbeing? The voices of teachers revealed findings that support a much-needed shift in teacher wellbeing rhetoric in Australia. We illuminate five key areas that influence teacher …

Udl As A Framework For Expanding Liaison Work And Engaging With Students, Erica Defrain

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries: Faculty Publications

This chapter examines the development of a series of virtual workshops designed to strengthen research and information strategies in the social sciences. Guided by the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL)—emphasizing equity, flexibility, and simplicity—the program evolved into both a successful synchronous learning experience and a sustainable suite of asynchronous instructional objects accessible across the university. Now in its third semester, the workshops have expanded beyond traditional liaison boundaries, increasing awareness of library resources and services throughout the academic community. The chapter details the iterative process of developing, designing, and assessing the workshops through a UDL framework, highlighting pedagogical …

Le Soutien À La Scolarisation Des Filles Et Leur Maintien À L’École, Population Council, Swedd

Adolescents and Young People

Série SWEDD: Guide de Bonnes Pratiques no. 2

Ce Guide fait partie d’une série qui documente d’une manière rétrospective le processus de mise en œuvre des interventions du projet SWEDD, et décrit les bonnes pratiques, les défis et les leçons apprises. Le projet “Autonomisation des Femmes et Dividende Démographique au Sahel” (SWEDD) a été lancé en novembre 2015 avec le soutien financier de la Banque mondiale, et l’appui technique du Fonds des Nations Unies pour la population (UNFPA) et de l’Organisation Ouest -Africaine pour la Santé (OOAS). Les recherches menant à ce Guide ont été dirigées par le Population …

Support For Girls’ Education And Keeping Them In School, Population Council, Swedd

Adolescents and Young People

SWEDD Series: Best Practice Guide no. 2

This Guide is one of a series that retrospectively documents the process of implementing the interventions of the SWEDD project, and documents good practices, challenges and lessons learned. The “Sahel Women's Empowerment and Demographic Dividend” (SWEDD) project was launched in November 2015 with financial support from the World Bank, and technical support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the West African Health Organisation (WAHO). The research informing this Guide was led by the Population Council.

Lobbying As A Means For Expanding The Communication Instructional Base In Higher Education Iii, Craig Newburger, Patricia L. Donat, Sherwyn P. Morreale

Journal of the Association for Communication Administration

Based on several national mandates, this essay examines the support for and importance of active advocacy among our discipline members in framing the conversation about oral communication proficiency, leading instructional design, and assessing student learning on our campuses. Recommended action involves the development and implementation of a coordinated strategy for engaging both institutional accreditors and those charged with the development and modification of individual campus general education requirements regarding the importance of communication scholars and instructors as principal designers of learning goals, subsequent learning activities, and the corresponding assessment of oral communication instruction on college campuses.

Effective Communication For Department Chairs: Thinking Like A Leader, Acting As A Colleague, Mark Hickson Iii

Journal of the Association for Communication Administration

This is the third essay in a three-part series that the author has been working on. The first and second parts appear in earlier volumes of the Journal of the Association for Communication Administration.

Student Engagement In The Communication Classroom: An Intervention To Encourage Student Success, Jay Baglia, Elissa Foster, Kendra Knight, Stephanie Grau

Journal of the Association for Communication Administration

Universities implement a variety of interventions to address student engagement and retention. This is especially true post-pandemic as faculty attempt to return to a pre-pandemic structure. Emerging adulthood aligns with the personal responsibility demanded of college students as well as changes in personal growth. In the current climate, stress has been shown to negatively impact executive functioning, the cognitive processes necessary for academic success. This essay describes an intervention encouraging student self-reflexivity around processes for engagement, academic success, and retention. Communication Fundamentals for College Success—a 5-week, two-credit workshop—was developed and delivered by the authors. Curriculum focused on time management, study …

Navigating And Thriving In Leadership: Practical Advice For Elected And Appointed Association Leaders, Tiffany R. Wang

Journal of the Association for Communication Administration

Elected and appointed association leaders face circumstances that can make professional service challenging. This essay offers practical advice for how association leaders can navigate and thrive in leadership roles as they fulfill their duties and responsibilities. Current and past association leaders offer observations and recommendations for success.

Journal Of The Association For Communication Administration: Complete Volume 41

Journal of the Association for Communication Administration

This is the complete volume of JACA Volume 41.

Mapping The Ferment: Mediated Communication Research In Cios-Indexed Journals From 1970-2020, David J. Atkin, Kenneth A. Lachlan, Timothy D. Stephen, Carolyn Lagoe

Journal of the Association for Communication Administration

This study profiles scholarly publishing in the domain of mediated communication, based on an analysis of media-themed communication journals—as indexed in the CIOS’s ComAbstracts database—from 1970–2020. Analysis of 22,300 articles from media-themed scholarly journals paints a portrait of scholarly publishing configurations across the domains of Journalism and Communication. Criterion articles were subjected to cluster analysis that yielded a comprehensive unified field portrait of interlinkages among topical pairings encompassing 58 topical categories. Results suggest that just 7 of our 37 criterion journal outlets date to the 1970s, 6 additional titles were launched in the 1980s, 10 more in the 1990s, and …

2024 Engage For Change Awards Program, Bonner Center For Civic Engagement

Engage for Change Awards

2024 Award Print: Niyah McGee

Keynote Speaker: Gina Lyles, Executive Director, The Hive

The Strategic Planning Process: A Mixed Methods Examination Of The Process As An Antidote To Promote Sustainability And Prevent The Extinction Of Startup Nonprofits, Charrisse Somme

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The nonprofit sector plays an intricate role in today’s economy and communities nationwide. Nonprofits employ over 12 million people in the United States and provide over $800 million in salaries and benefits, which equates to adding $1 trillion to the national economy. These contributions affirm the necessity for nonprofit existence. There is a sense of urgency to address this problem, as nonprofit dissolution has been increasing steadily since the pandemic began and spiked 30% during January 2022 compared to January 2021 (Delaney & O’Leary, 2022). “While competition amongst and the resulting exit of for-profit businesses have been studied, the exit …