Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Impact Of The Mcgirt Supreme Court Decision On Federal Water Policy Within Shared Watersheds, Travis Alexander Younce

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation explored the following research question: What are the public policy implications of the McGirt Supreme Court decision on federal water policy and regulations governing shared watersheds between state, tribes, and federal control? Specifically, this study examined the changing freshwater availability within Oklahoma and Montana. Oklahoma is one of the nation’s most diverse water management lands, with over 85% of its water within tribal boundaries. Eleven lakes and reservoirs in central Oklahoma provide water to the increasingly urbanized population. This dissertation aimed to identify integrated regulations regarding water policy and impacts by examining requirements, use, clarity, and climatological data …

The Role Of Data Analytics In Detecting Unemployment Insurance Fraud: A Case Study Of State Governments In The United States, Tina Louise Carkhuff

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The unprecedented surge in unemployment insurance claims during the COVID-19 pandemic exposed state labor agency systems in the United States to significant fraud risks, resulting in billions of dollars in improper payments. This study investigated the role of data analytics in detecting and mitigating unemployment insurance fraud, with a focus on state government responses. Using a single-case study approach, I examined how advanced data analytics, including machine learning, predictive modeling, and strategies to identify fraudulent claims, can reduce fraud within unemployment insurance systems. The study also included an investigation of systemic vulnerabilities and the impact of policy improvements on fraud …

Investigating The Nexus Of Political, Economic, And Social Constraints On The Budgetary Process: A Multimethod Approach To Unraveling The Impact On Low To Median-Income Families In Richmond, Virginia, Lauren D. Mallory

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this applied study was to explore the intricate relationship between political, economic, and social constraints on the budgetary process and their consequential impact on low to median-income families in Richmond, Virginia. Utilizing a multimethod approach, the research objective was to combine quantitative analysis of fiscal allocations, economic indicators, and demographic data with qualitative insights from semi-structured interviews with policymakers, financial experts, and the affected families. Through a sequential exploratory design, the study aimed to employ qualitative data to understand contextual and nuanced impacts of budgetary decisions. These insights informed the quantitative phase, where statistical analysis elucidated patterns …

Parliamentary Procedure Interactive Notebook: Newly Revised, P. Troy White, Amie Carter

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Faculty Publications

An interactive notebook for teaching fundamentals of parliamentary procedure. Over 120 pages of content to help teach correct principles of this critical organizational management skill. P. Troy White is a Professional Registered Parliamentarian and a Certified Parliamentarian, ensuring that the content included follows the 12th Edition of Robert's Rules of Order.

Coloring Outside The Lines: Factors Facilitating Divergent Thinking, Michelle Baca Reinke

Master's Theses

Divergent thinking involves producing a multitude of unique and diverse ideas. The ability to “color outside the lines” is crucial to business, education, and social domains. The flexibility, originality, and fluency dimensions of divergent thinking are commonly assessed using the Alternative Uses Task, which involves generating uses for common objects. Prior research suggests that high identification (first-person perspective) with schema-inconsistent experiences increases flexibility, while semantic density (degree of conceptual associations) impacts originality and fluency inversely. However, their combined effects across multiple divergent thinking dimensions remain unexplored. The present research investigated the interactive effects of identification (high, low), schema consistency (consistent, …

Beyond The Individual: Community Socioecological Correlates Of Mass Shootings In A Cross-Sectional Analysis, Barbara (Basia) E. Lopez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mass shootings represent an urgent and persistent threat to public safety in the United States, yet most research has focused on individual-level characteristics, leaving community-level socioecological conditions comparatively underexamined. This study addressed this gap in knowledge through an examination of the statistical correlations between community-level characteristics and mass shooting incidence using Ostrom’s social-ecological systems theory as a guiding framework. A cross-sectional quantitative design was employed using secondary data from The Violence Project, the U.S. Census Bureau, Neighborhood Atlas National Data Archive, and publicly available law enforcement and policy records. Multiple regression analysis was performed to test both main and interaction …

Barriers In Trauma-Responsive School Implementation: A Study Exploring And Comparing Rural, Suburban, And Urban Districts In Indiana, Allison L. Makowski

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Trauma responsive practices are a type of educational practice currently being utilized in our schools. Our students come to school every day with some type of trauma which is a negative event that a child experiences. Types of traumatic experiences could be in the form of a natural disaster, car accident, or some type of abuse. The current study examined barriers that schools experience when implementing trauma responsive practices. The schools were examined further to investigate whether or not there were differences in barriers in rural, suburban, and urban school districts in the state of Indiana.

Funded To Win? Super Pacs And Electoral Advantage In The Southeast, Kyle Winstead

Poster Presentations

In 2010, two key pieces of legislation were passed: Citizens United v. FEC and Speechnow.org v. FEC. The results of these cases led to the creation of a new type of organization known as the super PAC. After their inception, the amount of super PACs exploded going from 83 in 2010 to 2,393 in 2016. Since then, the number of super PACs has remained relatively constant with a total of 2,458 super PACs in 2024. While Super PACs constitute a new method of civic participation in politics, there are concerns regarding their potential influence. The results of this research support …

From Heaven To Hell: A Reinterpretation Of Comparison Between Germany’S Airborne Fallschirmjäger Operations And The Allied Airborne Operation At Arnhem In World War Ii, Jeremy Herbert

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This thesis examines the legacy of the German paratrooper corps and compares them to similar Allied operations during World War II. Relying on archival documents as well as 80 years of analysis by historians, the thesis argues that the overwhelming consensus among historians of the German Fallschirmjäger as a failed experiment is undeserved, since the pitfalls experienced during their operations pale in comparison to similar British operations. The German invasion of Crete in 1941 serves as the base example for Anglophone historians who favor the idea of German failure solely based on the number of German casualties. In reality, the …

Reopening The Past, Nadia R. Castillo

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

According to the Murder Accountability Project and Federal Bureau of Investigations, “nearly 340,000 homicides and non-negligent manslaughter cases went unsolved in the U.S. from the year of 1965 to 2021 alone” (FBI; 2021). Hidden in the corners of the Justice System are endless cases that go unsolved, untouched or just too long forgotten these crimes carry no answers, no justice, and no closure. For decades, many of these cold cases have been on a shelf collecting dust stalled by the limits of old outdated technology, limited resources, and insufficient evidence. A new era of forensic science is evolving every day, …

Criminogenic Risk Factors For Delinquency In Relation To The Custodial Parent: Incorporating Parent-Child Gender Dyads, Behavioral Control, And Support, Niko Noel Piña-Anastasiadis

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Juvenile delinquency tends to be higher in single-parent households (Kroese et al., 2021). Research investigating this phenomenon has found conflicting results on whether a juvenile has lower rates of delinquency with a custodial father (paternal hypothesis), custodial mother (maternal hypothesis), or whether gender is secondary to other factors. Similarly, some studies found that the interaction of the juvenile living with a same-gendered parent was associated with lower levels of delinquency. Further complications include how parental variables, such as behavioral control and support levels, may interact with the juvenile and custodial parent gender (Hoeve et al., 2009). The current study utilizes …

The Impact Of Black Faculty On First-Year Black Student Retention, Sense Of Belonging, And Racial Identity At Historically And Predominantly White Institutions, D'Andrea L. Williams

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The presence and engagement of Black faculty members in higher education can significantly impact Black students' college experience in their first year, especially at historically and predominantly White institutions. Emphasizing the importance of representation mentorship and relationship building, this study stresses the importance of Black faculty in fostering a sense of belonging, strengthening racial identity development, and contributing to the retention rates of Black college students during their freshmen year. On campus, Black students face the challenges of a campus climate plagued by racism, unfair expectations, mistreatment, microaggressions, and discrimination. Representation matters, and the sharing and affirming of those experiences …

Do Themes Improve Visitor Outcomes In Interpretive Programs?, Amber K. Hawes

All Theses

Thematic interpretation is widely promoted as being integral to an effective interpretive program. Some studies have suggested that thematic interpretation may enhance visitor outcomes; however, park visitor demographics have changed over the last decade, and others have suggested alternative approaches. In this study, we systematically observed live interpretive programs at 330 programs at 52 National Parks across the United States, monitored the extent and characteristics of theme usage, and collected visitor surveys immediately following each program. We used these data to determine the influence of the presence and characteristics of themes and theme questions on visitor outcomes. The results suggest …

Hurricane Helene And Impacts On Georgia Libraries, Wilhelmina Randtke, Melissa Johnson, Kathy Davies, Erin Prentiss, Brad Warren, Emily Rogers, Emily Harris, Will Petty

Georgia Library Quarterly

In late September 2024, Hurricane Helene moved from Florida up the east coast of the United States. The hurricane struck land in the Florida panhandle, and moved north up through North Carolina. It passed over much of Georgia. The hurricane made landfall at around 11pm in Perry, Florida on Thursday, September 26. That night, it moved up through Georgia, and through to North Carolina. Governor Brian Kemp issued a state of emergency for Georgia, and later a state of emergency for 41 counties in Georgia. This article shares the experiences of librarians in Georgia in responding to and living through …

Empowerment Through The Sisters Lifting As We Climb Network: Examining The Organization’S Impact On Black Women, Sharnay Hearn Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological case study examines the role of empowerment within the “Sisters Lifting as We Climb Network” through the experiences of Black women participants in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Utilizing in-depth semi-structured interviews, the research investigates the organization's origins, evolution, and social support mechanisms that foster empowerment, as well as participants' experiences with programs and activities over the past nine years. Additionally, the study identifies areas for organizational improvement to further enhance participant empowerment.

The findings of this research support the empowerment theory framework by clarifying the preconditions, processes, and outcomes of empowerment within the Network, which fosters sisterhood and enhances participants' …

Resilience Of Interdependent Transportation And Healthcare Systems: A Simulation-Driven Framework Incorporating Social Equity And Facility Optimization, S. Yasaman Ahmadi

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

The overarching goal of this dissertation is to develop an integrated, simulation-driven framework to assess and enhance the resilience of interdependent transportation and healthcare systems before, during, and after natural hazards. By examining how spatial disruptions, social vulnerability, operational constraints, and infrastructure interdependencies affect access to and functionality of hospitals, this research offers a multifaceted evaluation of system performance under stress. This dissertation examines the impact of natural hazards, particularly floods, on the interdependent transportation and healthcare systems. The proposed approach combines and advances GIS-based network analysis, graph-theoretical modeling, and discrete-event simulation to evaluate system performance under different scenarios. The …

Cultivating Care And Resilience: The Contributions And Challenges Of Women Farmers In Hawaii’S Agricultural Landscape, Olivia Manley

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative dissertation examines the multifaceted experiences of women farmers in Hawaii, focusing on their motivations, community contributions, and engagement with agricultural programs. Using a semi-grounded theory approach and drawing on feminist political ecology and care work lenses, this study centers on the lived realities of women farming in Maui County. Through in-depth interviews, it explores how these farmers navigate challenges, build resilient food systems, and uphold cultural and environmental stewardship. Findings reveal that women farm not solely for economic gain but as an expression of care for ʻāina (land), family, and community. Their work makes a significant contribution to …

Funded To Win? Super Pacs And Electoral Advantage In The Southeast, Kyle Winstead

Honors Theses

2010 saw the introduction of a new player on the field of electoral finance, the super PAC. This introduction came with much controversy due to the widespread fear that super PACs could undermine the election system by giving wealthy individuals or organizations an undue influence. The literature on super PACs influence on the electoral system is inconclusive, with different studies having mixed results, meaning more information needs to be gathered. In this paper, I attempt to learn more about super PACs influence, particularly on congressional elections, by examining the results of congressional elections across three states: Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. …

Three Essays On Mental Health Courts, Taylor E. Le Moal

All Dissertations

Mental illness in the criminal justice system is a major issue, with 2 in 5 incarcerated people in the US having a serious mental illness (Criminalization of People with Mental Illness, n.d.). Prisons have turned into “de facto” mental health facilities when these facilities are not equipped to do so. This means once individuals are released from incarceration, they are often ill-equipped to return to regular life and may get caught up in the cycle of recidivism (Slate, 2017). One method that policymakers have used to solve this problem is mental health courts (MHCs), which are pre-trial diversion …

Flooding: Risk Assessment And Its Interaction With Population & Environmental Health, Shivendra Srivastava

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Flood events have significant implications for both population and environmental health. This dissertation aims to explore flood risk and its interaction with humans and the environment. The key questions addressed in this dissertation include improving the existing flood risk framework to better assess population vulnerability and associated risk. Additionally, it explores how interactions among risk components vary across spatial scales and regions, and how these variations influence overall flood risk. The dissertation also investigates how to design a vulnerability component specific to flooding within flood risk estimation. Finally, it answers whether flood-specific vulnerability differs for a population compared to vulnerability …

Application Of Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing (Dfos) For Monitoring Asphalt Pavement Strains Under Accelerated Loading Conditions, Sebastian Morales

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This thesis presents a study on the application of Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing (DFOS) technology for detecting pavement's strain response with high spatial resolution. Using a Rayleigh-based optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) system, DFOS sensors were calibrated and embedded in full-scale asphalt slabs subjected to accelerated loading using a Model Mobile Load Simulator 3 (MMLS3). Calibration of the DFOS sensors was conducted using a three-point bending flexural test with known load conditions and reference strain gauges to validate theoretical and numerical models. The results demonstrate DFOS's capability to detect pavement response under static and dynamic loading, as well as changes …

Readiness Of Universitas Indonesia To Be An Inclusive Campus For People With Disabilities, Dumilah Ayuningtyas, Tri Auri Putri Ayuningtyas, Anita Pebrina Lubis, Anindya Naila Sabahat, Ratih Oktarina, Afaf Jauhar

Masyarakat: Jurnal Sosiologi

Ensuring equal education rights remains a challenge in Indonesia, despite constitutional mandates and the global commitment to “no one left behind.” The Disability Participation Rate remains low; in 2023, only 21.03% of individuals aged 19–23 were included. This reflects, among other factors, the limited preparedness of educational institutions. This study evaluates Universitas Indonesia’s readiness to develop inclusive education for persons with physical, sensory, mental, and intellectual disabilities. Using the capability approach, it assesses whether institutional resources can be translated into capability-enhancing conditions for students with disabilities. The study draws on literature review, targeted document searches, SWOT analysis, IFE-EFE matrices, and …

Exploring Commuter Cyclists' Experiences Commuting In And Around Clemson University, Trevor S. Romans

All Theses

Climate change is a global issue, and high rates of automobile usage contribute to substantial social, environmental, and economic issues. One potential partial solution is creating bicycle-friendly communities. Research suggests that bicycle use leads to benefits in physical health, environmental sustainability, economic savings, and social justice. Research supports the roles of infrastructure development, safety policies, and other transportation planning initiatives in increasing bicycling, but less research has been completed about what is needed to develop bicycle-friendly communities. While physical infrastructure affects willingness to commute by bicycle, research suggests that understanding psychological factors and other behavioral aspects is also important for …

Promoting Understanding Of Soft Power Theory : A Case Study Of Confucius Institutes Along The Belt And Road, Dan Yang

Lingnan Theses (Doctoral degree)

This dissertation explores the function of Confucius Institutes (CI) as key tools within China’s soft power approach, particularly in the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It provides a detailed and empirically based analysis of how these institutes operate within various national contexts. Drawing upon Joseph Nye’s soft power theory and supported by literature on public diplomacy, this study assesses the ways in which CIs translate cultural, linguistic, and educational assets into international influence. Despite the rapid expansion of CIs globally, their actual effectiveness in achieving cultural diplomacy and tangible soft power outcomes remains uncertain. Advocates emphasize the …

From Storm To Strength: Katrina's Legacy Of Health, Healing, And Hope, Lsu Health Sciences Center - New Orleans

LSUHSC Hurricane Katrina Archive: Reports & Presentations

This is the schedule for "From Storm to Strength" Katrina Symposium organized by LSU Health New Orleans to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

A speaker panel session was held each day from Monday, August 24, 2025 to Thursday, August 28, 2025 for LSU Health faculty, staff and guests to share their remembrances of the hurricane and its impact on the school, on the City, and on their lives.

Black Women Policymakers And Black Feminist Approaches In United States Gender-Based Violence Policies: Analyzing Policy Making, Institutional, And Social Media Discourse Through The Narrative Policy Framework, Gugu Selela

All Dissertations

This research study examines how gender-based violence (GBV) policy in the United States marginalizes Black women through race-neutral language and punitive frameworks. Despite facing disproportionate violence, Black women are often excluded from policy narratives, debates, and institutional priorities. Grounded in Black Feminist Thought and the Narrative Policy Framework, this study investigates how exclusion operates across legislative, digital, and institutional domains, and how Black women in public service resist and reshape GBV policy through care-centered, survivor-informed practices. Focusing on the U.S. South, the study uses a qualitative, multi-method design. It analyzes ninety-three Senate committee transcripts from South Carolina, North Carolina, and …

2025 August, Morehead State University. Office Of Communications & Marketing.

Morehead State Press Release Archive, 1961 to the Present

Press releases for August of 2025.

The Employment Situation Of Veterans: August 2025, Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

The August 2025 Employment Situation Report highlights largely stable labor trends for veterans, with overall veteran unemployment rising slightly to 3.1 percent. Post‑9/11 veterans saw a small decline to 3.0 percent. Unemployment varied by age, with noticeable increases among veterans aged 18–24 and 35–44, while rates declined for those 55–64. Female veteran unemployment remained unchanged at 4.4 percent, and male veteran unemployment increased slightly to 2.9 percent. Across most demographic groups, veterans continued to experience lower unemployment rates than their nonveteran peers, though monthly fluctuations remained common.

Front And Back Matter

The Foundation Review

No abstract provided.

Listening As An Adaptive Practice To Transform Philanthropy, Nitya Venkateswaran, Kate Szczerbacki, Jay Feldman

The Foundation Review

A growing number of grantmaking institutions (GMIs) recognize that listening to communities in which they invest—especially those to, and most affected by, the challenges being addressed—is crucial to achieve their equity goals. Despite investments and intent to listen, there is a gap in implementation.

Genuine listening for equity requires that foundation leaders view the shift as adaptive and not merely technical. A technical change entails adoption of specified methods whereas adaptive changes require a fundamental shift in values and beliefs. Solely implementing new “listening” techniques without shifting values and beliefs could leave gaps between intention and action. But current resources …