Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Adjudicating Technology Facilitated Violence Against Women In Egypt: Between The Text And The Application, Eman E. Zidan

Theses and Dissertations

Technology-facilitated violence against women (TFVAW) has surged on digital platforms, leading to a sharp rise in victimization rates among girls and women globally. Egypt’s pioneering cybercrime legislation, though comprehensive, remains gender-neutral and inadequate in judicial application. Community perceptions reveal systemic gaps that erode public trust and fuel demands for specialized protections. This study analyzes Egyptian judicial responses to TFVAW cases through comparative jurisprudence with jurisdictions that feature gender-specific norms. Findings demonstrate that textual provisions alone fail to arrest this escalating phenomenon, underscoring the need for integrated reforms: tailored legislation, heightened awareness campaigns, and collaborative education on rights, duties, and societal …

Nourishing Births: A Program Evaluation Proposal For Community-Based Nutrition Education, Food Access, And Garden Engagement Among Black Birthing People, Naa Deedei-Vera Hammond

Master's Projects and Capstones

Black birthing people in the United States continue to experience unequal maternal health outcomes, shaped in part by racism and barriers to nutritious food, culturally relevant health education, and supportive community spaces. While prenatal nutrition education and food assistance programs can provide important resources, information alone cannot address the challenges many people face when trying to access healthy and affordable food during pregnancy. The Nourishing Births Initiative is a proposed community-based maternal health program designed to respond to these needs by bringing together prenatal nutrition education, help connecting to food resources, community gardening, and peer support for Black birthing people …

The Willing And The Compelled: How Power And Place Shape Human-Bison Coexistence In Poland And The United States, Patrick Orville Kelly

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Wildlife recovery programs depend not just on animals, but on how people feel about living with them. The degree to which people accept the disruptions wildlife brings to their lives, known as social tolerance, can determine whether a recovery program succeeds or fails, yet it remains understudied and underapplied in management plans. This dissertation studies how people in Poland and the western United States feel about living with the two living species of bison, the largest land animals in Europe and North America. In Poland, we surveyed 242 residents living at different distances from European bison habitat. Surprisingly, the most …

Exploring Burnout Among Ncaa Collegiate Athletes: The Impact Of Gender, Sport, Seasonal Demands, And Other Contributing Factors, Anneliese Wong

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine burnout among NCAA Division I student-athletes at one mid-sized University in the Rocky Mountains region of the United States and determine whether differences existed based on gender, sport type, competitive season stage, and burnout dimension. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was used and data was collected from 76 student-athletes across 11 varsity sports. Burnout was assessed using items adapted from the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ; Raedeke & Smith, 2001), along with additional items assessing fatigue and seasonal experiences.

Descriptive results showed the student-athletes reported the highest mean level of physical burnout, followed …

A Journey To The Midwest For Migrant Farmwork: Women's Testimonies Examining Their Lived Experiences Using Autoethnography And Plática Research Methodologies, Yesenia G. Alcalá

Theses & Dissertations

A JOURNEY TO THE MIDWEST FOR MIGRANT FARMWORK: WOMEN’S TESTIMONIES EXAMINING THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCES USING AUTOETHNOGRAPHY AND PLÁTICA

RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES

Yesenia Garza Alcalá, Master of Business Administration

University of the Incarnate Word 2026

The purpose of my research was to share the stories of five women who experienced a yearly migratory routine from Del Rio, Texas, to work in farms and factories in the Midwest, and how that annual journey shaped and educated us. The women are four of my older sisters and me, all of whom traveled and worked in the Princeville, Illinois, migrant camp, where we experienced the …

Evaluating The Pulse Of Exercise Programs: Developing And Validating The Intervention Usability Scale For Exercise (Iuse) To Enhance Implementation And Adherence, Anne Inger Mørtvedt, Eva Ageberg, Steven Elmer, Kevin Trewartha, Erich Petushek

Michigan Tech Publications

Background: Adherence to exercise interventions is often suboptimal, despite numerous studies documenting barriers and facilitators. Usability may be a critical yet underexplored determinant of adherence. This study aimed to develop and assess the psychometric properties of the Intervention Usability Scale for Exercise (IUSE). Methods: Item generation and content validation involved cognitive interviews and feedback from eight exercise intervention stakeholders and ten target users from the general public. Subsequently, 526 target users from University, Qualtrics and Prolific participant panels assessed exercise programs through an online survey. Dimensionality was assessed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), and bifactor models. …

Exploring Media Students’ Engagement With Digital Libraries And Cognitive Outcomes, Hussein Mohammed, Abd Al-Salam Al-Samarrai, Tayba Tawfiq

The study examines the use of digital libraries by media students in Iraq for academic and reference purposes. It focuses on digital libraries available through the applications Facebook and Telegram that specialize in communication and media sciences. The research sample consists of randomly selected students from various media departments, including Radio and Television, Public Relations, and Journalism.

The study adopts the descriptive method, which is one of the most used approaches in media research, to measure the extent to which media students use digital libraries on Facebook and, Telegram and to identify the cognitive gratifications achieved through this use. The …

The Factors Affecting The Adherence Of Palestinian Journalists Working In Electronic Journalism To Professional Ethics "A Field Study", Ahmad Al Sallaq, Thaer Al-Sharif

The current study aims to identify the factors influencing the adherence of Palestinian journalists working in electronic journalism to professional ethics, and the most significant challenges that hinder their adherence.

The study is descriptive, employing a survey methodology. It utilizes a questionnaire administered to a simple random sample of (120) Palestinian journalists.

The study yielded several key findings, most notably: that the most significant factor influencing the adherence of Palestinian journalists working in electronic journalism to professional ethics is "societal customs and traditions," with a relative weight of (78.3). Furthermore, the study found that "the Israeli occupation" ranked first among …

Audience Discernment Of Ai-Generated Media Content: A Systematic Review, Safaa Al-Abrawi

Despite the growing prevalence of AI-generated content in the media industry, media research has largely focused on specific aspects, such as measuring communicators' attitudes and perceptions toward the use of this emerging technology. Research examining audiences and their ability to discern AI-generated content remains limited. Accordingly, this study aims to examine audiences' ability to discern AI-generated media content. The study employs a systematic review methodology, reviewing 19 studies based on clearly defined inclusion and exclusion criteria within the Participants, Concept, and Context (PCC) framework.

The study identified several key findings. Most notably, audiences can distinguish AI-generated content through a range …

Journalists' Trends Towards Employing Artificial Intelligence Tools In Media Content Production, Kifaya Al-Mousa

This study aimed to identify Jordanian journalists’ attitudes toward employing artificial intelligence tools in media content production, examine the extent to which these tools are used, identify the main factors limiting their adoption, and explore the perceived benefits and concerns associated with their use in journalistic work. The study adopted a descriptive-analytical approach and employed a questionnaire administered to a random sample of 306 Jordanian journalists who are members of the Jordan Press Association. The findings showed that 57.9% of the respondents did not use artificial intelligence tools in producing media content, compared with 41.8% who reported using them. The …

Awareness Of Media Students In Jordan Regarding The Ethical Dimensions Of Employing Artificial Intelligence Tools In University Education, Saddam Al-Mashaqbeh, Rasha Salameh, Hani Ahmad Fayez Al-Badri Dr.

This study examined the level of awareness among media students in Jordan regarding the ethical dimensions of employing artificial intelligence tools in university education. The study explored students’ patterns of AI usage and measured their cognitive, emotional, and behavioral awareness associated with the ethical and academic use of artificial intelligence. The growing use of artificial intelligence tools in university education has raised ethical and academic concerns related to academic integrity, proper documentation, and responsible use of AI-generated content. It also aimed to identify the extent to which students adhere to academic integrity and proper documentation practices when using AI tools …

The Role Of Social Media Influencers In Shaping Food Awareness And Dietary Behavior Among The Emirati Audience: A Field Study On Citizens Of Al Ain City, Laila Alkaabi, Huda Alremeithi, Reem Alnuaimi, Shamsa Almheiri, Amer Khaled Ahmad, Maram Manajrah

This study aims to investigate the role of social media influencers in shaping food awareness and dietary behavior among the Emirati audience, drawing on media dependence theory and employing a public survey methodology through the administration of a questionnaire to a purposive sample of Emirati citizens in Al Ain City who follow influencers to obtain information on healthy nutrition. The findings revealed that more than (79.3%) of the sample members rely on social media influencers to obtain information on healthy nutrition at a moderate-to-high degree, with "the ease of rapid access to food-related information" emerging as the leading reason for …

Beyond The Screen: Dimensions Of Ecophilia In Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs (1937) And Children’S Awareness Of Them, Reham Refaat Mohammad Abdelaal Prof

This study aimed to explore the dimensions of Ecophilia in the film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and examine the extent to which children perceive these dimensions of love for nature and the environment. The study focused specifically on Biophilia (love of living beings) and Topophilia (love of a particular place or environment) from the perspective of ecocriticism, employing an interdisciplinary approach that integrates ecology, environmental animation, cinema, media studies, and environmental education.

The research was conducted on a sample of 100 boys and girls aged between 6 and 12 years, as children within this age group possess the …

Comparative Case Study Of Production Efficiency, Financial Performance, And Business Risk In Laying Hen Farms With Different Housing Systems And Management Conditions, Aliffa Mahayu Swastiratu, Fanny Widadie, Darsono

Jurnal Ilmu Ternak Universitas Padjadjaran

The laying hen sector continues to expand in response to increasing demand for animal protein; however, productivity remains sensitive to environmental conditions, particularly temperature fluctuations that affect production stability. The housing system represents a key management factor influencing farm performance. This study aims to compare production efficiency, financial performance, and business risk between closed-house and open-house laying hen systems. A comparative case study approach was applied to two commercial farms in Bayat District, Klaten Regency, representing each housing system. Data were analyzed using feed conversion ratio (FCR) and mortality rate for production efficiency, cost–revenue analysis, R/C ratio, and return on …

A Philosophical Introduction To Elements And Relations: Aspects Of A Scientific Metaphysics, Martin Zwick

Complex Systems Faculty Publications and Presentations

My book, Elements and Relations*, amplifies Bunge’s characterization of the systems project as the construction an “exact and scientific metaphysics” (ESM) different from and broader than the reductionist and physicalist ontology of conventional science. This paper discusses the scientific theories constituting this project and the central notion of “system” as a structure-function dyad, where “structure” is the system’s internal order and “function” is its participation in the external order of its environment. The paper also discusses the book’s proposal of ontology and ethics as a structure-function dyad for the systems field, an ontology of problems that exemplifies the ESM idea.

Cropland Change And Prime Farmland In Calloway County, Kentucky, 2015–2025: A Gis Analysis Of Corn And Soybean Fields, Shiba Hari Dhakal Shiba

Scholars Week

Understanding where cropland change occurs relative to soil quality helps indicate whether farmland is being used on the most productive land. This study used GIS-based change detection analysis to evaluate changes in corn and soybean fields in Calloway County, Kentucky, between 2015 and 2025 and to test whether new corn and soybean fields were located on prime farmland. USDA Cropland Data Layer maps for 2015 and 2025 (30 m resolution) were reclassified into seven classes and compared in ArcGIS Pro, and the results were overlaid on USDA NRCS gSSURGO farmland classification. Combined corn and soybean area declined about 19% from …

Dyslexia: A Beginner’S Guide For Criminal Justice, Forensic Mental Health, And Legal Professionals, Jerrod Brown Ph.D., M.A., M.S., M.S., M.S., Amy Guillot, Morgan Rutkowski, Jeremiah B. Schimp, Jonathan Q. Ward, Kimberly Dodson, Shelley Mydra Dmft, Lmft, Amanda Fenrich, Joshua Kirven, Bettye Sue Hennington, Matthew Peacock, Janina Cich, Nicole Kimberley-Staeheli

Forensic Scholars Today

Dyslexia is a heritable, neurobiological learning disorder that persistently interferes with reading, spelling, and writing and is distinct from intellectual, visual, or hearing impairments. Although an estimated 15% to 20% of the general population may show symptoms of dyslexia, studies report that 41% to 62% of incarcerated individuals display dyslexia-related characteristics. This beginner’s guide introduces dyslexia for criminal justice, forensic mental health, and legal professionals. It reviews diagnostic considerations, including the distinction between dyslexia and low literacy, the varied cognitive profiles of dyslexia, and the influence of co-occurring conditions such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The article frames the link between dyslexia …

Kronik Perubahan Paradigma Terhadap Wacana Agronomi Di Andalusia Pada Abad Ke 11-12 M, Muhamad Naufal Sulistyo

Multikultura

This study examines the history of Islamic science through the paradigmatic shift in agronomic discourse (filāḥah) in Andalusia during the 11th to 12th centuries CE. Employing Thomas Kuhn's paradigm shift theory within his framework of Scientific Revolution, this qualitative research aims to reconstruct the intellectual transformation of the Muslim agronomist community from a magical-speculative orientation toward an empirical-technical one. The study applies a five-stage historical research method topic selection, heuristics, verification, interpretation, and historiography in conjunction with the paradigm shift concept, as applied to the major agricultural treatises of Andalusia. Data sources include both primary and secondary literature comprising books, …

Designing With, Not For Youth: Reframing Participatory Techniques As Civic Learning Tools For Urban Greening And Natural Resources Programming, Mayra I Rodriguez Gonzalez, Dorelys Oyola Remigio, Kevin G Torres Garrido

Journal of Extension

Here, we present four participatory techniques—visioning, mapping, photovoice, and codesign—with practical recommendations for their effective implementation in fostering civic learning and engagement in urban greening among BIPOC and Hispanic youth. With examples of culturally responsive, hands-on activities and an AI-assisted synthesis of youth ideas, drawn from application with over 100 youth in Connecticut, we illustrate their use in informing local urban planning processes. We highlight the role of these techniques in positioning youth as active civic agents and collaborative designers in the creation of urban green spaces, with application for Extension professionals, educators, and planning officials.

Analyzing Accessibility And Efficacy Of One Research Survey Website To Test Readability Of Physical Activity Promotion Material Disseminated Online: A Mixed Methods Pilot Study, Jafra D. Thomas, Anuraj Dhillon, Yi Sheng Wu, Jasmine C. Wong, Regina F. Hockert

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Volume 7: Issue 1, Article 2, 2026.  Accessibility is the effort and ability required to access and navigate environments and participate in activities. Physical activity educational materials disseminated to the public and used within behavior change interventions may be hard to read and navigate, decreasing their accessibility and a study’s validity. This study documented, and addressed, issues that may hinder researchers’ ability to gauge accessibility of their online educational materials using the cloze procedure (a direct readability measure, requires guessing missing words from text passages). A multi-stage, mixed methods pilot study was utilized (August 2022 to May 2023). Phase 1: …

Michigan Academician Volume 50, Issue 2

Michigan Academician

2026 Abstract Issue

Innovation Ecosystem Model To Achieve Sustainability In Palm-Oil Biofuel Development In Indonesia, Fanny Rahmadhitya, Avanti Fontana, Ignatius Heruwasto

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Achieving sustainable expansion of Indonesia’s palm-oil biofuel sector requires overcoming two interconnected challenges: ecological limits on feedstock expansion and weak translation of research into industry adoption. Although innovation ecosystem research emphasizes multi-actor collaboration, existing innovation ecosystem research provides limited understanding of how governance and innovation intermediation can bridge these gaps in the palm oil biofuel sector. Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, the study draws on 12 semi-structured interviews with key policymakers, industry practitioners, and researchers, analyzed using constructivist grounded theory (CGT) and triangulated with policy documents and a structured comparison with Malaysia. The findings reveal two interconnected bottlenecks. First, …

Building Relationships With Family Forest Landowners In The Western Upper Gulf Coastal Plain To Enhance Forest Management And Promote Certification, Sandeepa Pantha, Nana Tian, Ana Gutierrez-Castillo, Joshua Adams, Eric Taylor

Journal of Extension

Responsible forest management provides ecological, economic, and societal benefits. Sustaining these benefits in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas depends on the forest management practices of 821,000 family landowners who own 32 million acres of forestland. This study uses an innovative network-building approach to support family forest landowners (FFLs), particularly underrepresented ones, by connecting them with professionals through facilitator teams established in each state by an advisory board. This network-building strategy provides supportive networks for FFLs, fostering trust and connections within a more extensive and diverse FFL community. This network encourages cooperative, communication-centered technical support to FFLs within essential landscapes to enhance …

Valuation Methods And Their Relevance In Achieving Marine Protected Areas Targets: A Systematic Review, Jacob Ankamah, Stephen Hynes, Daragh O'Leary

Journal of Ocean and Coastal Economics

The prolific human-induced pressures on marine ecosystems leading to negative externalities such as beach erosion, biodiversity loss, and climate change are matters of global concern. Marine protected areas (MPAs) have emerged as a tool to conserve marine biodiversity and support human livelihoods. This paper reviews the global research landscape, the evolution of concepts and the relevance of valuation techniques related to the assessment of the contribution of MPAs to societal welfare. The review indicates that less than 3% of the wider MPA literature explores the economic valuation of MPA designation. Of those, there is an obvious preference for non-market-based methods …

Creative Conversations: The Un-Meeting As An Approach To Agricultural Extension Communication, Jessica R. Spence, Eric K. Kaufman, Megan M. Seibel, Jean A. Parrella, Crystal Tyler-Mackey, Benjamin B. Grove, Bolane Adebayo, Olamide Olowoyo, Sonika Poudel, Stephanie Zhu, Michael Gutter

Journal of Extension

The agricultural industry increasingly faces complex challenges that require diverse stakeholder input, and traditional meeting approaches often limit engagement and perpetuate top-down dynamics that can inhibit effective problem-solving. This article explores the ``un-meeting'' format as an alternative, highlighting its ability to foster inclusive, participant-driven discussions that encourage collaborative brainstorming and actionable outcomes. Based on our experience with a statewide agriculture summit, we discuss the principles underlying un-meetings, the facilitation process, and the practical implications for Extension professionals. Recommendations include the importance of knowledgeable facilitators, a large team for effective management, and limiting session cycles to maintain focus and depth in …

Multiple Insights Into Affective Sentience, Jon Mallatt, Todd E. Feinberg

Animal Sentience

We discuss some of the many valuable insights into affective sentience from Birch’s The Edge of Sentience, such as its eight criteria for determining which entities have sentience (e.g., emotions) and its insights into the difficulty of testing whether an Artificial Intelligence system has attained sentience. We add our own perspectives on why the eight criteria are valid, on the difficulty of using behavioral trade-offs to determine whether an animal has sentience, and why evolutionary theory says consciousness is not an epiphenomenon.

Community-Based Water Management Through Cultural Ecosystem Services: Traditional Wisdom And Modern Adaptation In Senjoyo Spring, Indonesia, Puji Winarti, Sri Haryani, Sri Wardani, Langlang Handayani

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Small-scale freshwater ecosystems play vital ecological and cultural roles. However, community-based water management (CBWM) often lacks a clear analytical approach to integrating cultural ecosystem services (CES) and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), limiting the practical understanding of culturally grounded governance. To address this gap, this qualitative study explores the interactions between CES and TEK, analyzes their roles within CBWM, and identifies their implications for sustainable water governance. The integration between cultural value and local ecological knowledge makes Senjoyo Spring an appropriate location for this study. Data were collected through interviews with 20 key informants, field observations, forum group discussions (FGDs), and …

Marine Spatial Planning In The Asean Countries: Lesson Learned For Future Ocean Governance In Malaysia, Husni Alhan Md Salimun, Mohd Fadzil Akhir, Nazli Aziz, Che Din Mohd Safuan, Wan Izatul Asma Wan Talaat

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) has emerged as an important governance instrument for balancing ecological protection, economic development, and social inclusion amid the rapidly intensifying blue economy in Southeast Asia. Although several ASEAN Member States (AMS) have initiated MSP processes, the existing literature on MSP governance in this region  remains fragmented and largely descriptive, limiting systematic cross-country comparison and evidence-based lessons. This study addresses this gap by assessing MSP governance performance across ASEAN countries and againts internationally recognized MSP governance benchmarks. A structured narrative review was conducted using selected PRISMA-informed procedures for literature identification and screening. Academic publications from 2003 to …

Decentralized Renewable Energy And Sustainability By Integrating Solar Ovens Into Urban Living, Nuno Soares Domingues

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Urban households account for a substantial share of global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, with domestic cooking representing an often-overlooked component of residential energy demand. Low-cost solar cooking technologies offer a promising pathway towards urban decarbonization by harnessing renewable solar energy while reducing dependence on grid electricity and promoting circular resource use. This study evaluates the contribution of two experimentally developed low-cost solar box ovens to urban sustainability under Mediterranean climatic conditions in Lisbon, Portugal. A recycled cardboard prototype and a timber-based prototype were assessed through controlled outdoor experiments involving thermal performance, cooking capability, energy savings, and environmental evaluation. …

Improving Market Acceptance Of Agrivoltaic Implementation In Japan, Divya Suresh, Yuxin Qin, Kenichiro Hiramoto, Takuma Otaki, Abhishek Choudhury, Xiao Chen, Rajib Shaw

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Agrivoltaics (AV) enables the simultaneous use of land for solar energy generation and agricultural production. While AV has been widely studied from technical and economic perspectives, limited attention has been paid to market acceptance among farmers, particularly in Japan, where adoption remains constrained despite policy interest in renewable energy and rural revitalization. Existing studies identify regulatory, financial, and technical barriers, but insufficiently explain how farmer-level acceptance is shaped across different agricultural contexts or how project co-benefits can support adoption. This study examines farmers’ market acceptance of AV in Japan through a multi-case analysis of six projects in rice-cultivation areas, mountainous …