Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Leadership Development In A Virtual Work Environment, Sylvia Dion

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

The precise definition of "telecommuting" varies, but it is generally defined as the performance of work tasks from home (Glass and Noonan,2016, p. 6). More broadly, the Telework Enhancement Act (2010) defines telecommuting as “a work flexibility arrangement under which an employee performs the duties and responsibilities of such employee’s position, and other authorized activities, from an approved worksite other than the location from which the employee would otherwise work” (2010, p. 1). Leadership development in virtual work environments has been explored from the leader perspective, with much of the existing research focusing on the leader’s behaviors, skills, and interactions …

Opioid Use Treatment Via Telemedicine: Treatment Options For Rural Maine, Benjamin Knapp

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

The ongoing opioid crisis has overwhelmed the traditional opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment resources across America. The treatment resources in rural communities have been especially hard hit as geographic and financial barriers limit service capacity. Telemedicine, or medicine delivered via remote means, has been proposed as a potential solution to the lack of conventional opioid treatment resources in rural Maine. Current legalities in the US prohibit telemedicine being used to prescribe opioid agonist drugs, and insurance reimbursement for telemedicine remains a major barrier. This qualitative content analysis looks at the existing research on telemedicine's treatment efficacy for use with OUD …

Professional Impressions And Experiences Of The Complex Needs Of Human Trafficking Survivors, Jackie Klock, Kelsey Haynes

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Abstract Human trafficking is a monumental and pervasive human rights issue, and one that carries immense physical, psychological, and psychosocial repercussions to its survivors. This project explores the complex needs and service gaps that exist for survivors of human trafficking. Through a qualitative study, with six in-person interviews of professional providers in Maine, we gain access to important information regarding complex needs of human trafficking survivors. Using thematic analysis we analyze common themes throughout the interviews in relation to previous literature. Recommendations for practice are also presented.

Virtual International Leadership Within Organizations: Overcoming Cultural, Language, And Physical Barriers, Jaye Goulet

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Advances in technology are allowing members of a team to collaborate while being geographically and spatially apart. These new teams, known as virtual teams, have benefits for both the organizations to which they belong and to the individual members. Organizations are able to utilize highly-skilled experts without the associated relocation costs. Team members are able to contribute to projects in their field of expertise without having to leave their homeland. These teams require a leader whose interactions build trust and loyalty without the benefit of face-to-face contact with other team members. Although virtual teams are rapidly growing, research is lacking …

Experiences Of Veterans With Ptsd And Sud In An Outpatient Setting, Andrew Breault, Hannah Shifflett-Kohler

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

In 2014, there were approximately 7.9 million adults in the United States with co-occurring Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Substance Use Disorders (SUD) (SAMHSA, 2014). Of the veterans who served in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan alone, 30% of those in SUD treatment also meet the criteria for PTSD (Seal et al, 2008, pp. 476). Furthermore, statistics show that about 20 Veterans in the United States complete suicide daily (Spiva, 2019, p. 8). The Department of Veterans Affairs is urgently seeking successful approaches to addressing the high incidence of suicides among all veterans along with the low retention …

Cyberbullying And Suicide Among Lgbtq Youth: Is There A Connection?, Holly Wright, Victoria Wilson Townley

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

The suicide rate among children and teens has been rising over the last decade, and members of the LGBTQ youth population are at considerably greater risk for suicide than their heterosexual peers. LGBTQ youth are also at heightened risk of being bullied due to sexual orientation. Recent technological advancements have created a new platform for bullying, that of cyberbullying, which can contribute to feelings of depression and low self-esteem. The detrimental impact that cyberbullying can have on mental health suggests the possibility of a potential connection between cyberbullying and LGBTQ youth suicide. This qualitative study examines the possible link between …

Fake Service Dogs: Leading By Example, Joshua Ferguson

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

This qualitative research examines public awareness pertaining to the protocols surrounding service dogs and their handlers, known collectively as the service team. The use of service dogs has been on the increase as more people discover the benefits provided by service dogs. The increase in the number of service dogs fosters questions about safety, training, the dog’s purpose, and its legitimacy. Previous studies suggest that many individuals are falsely claiming their dogs as service dogs or “fake service dogs.” This research explores what trends are leading to increases in service dog use and how fake service dogs affect people involved. …

Lgbt+ Teens, Social Media Use & Depressive Symptoms, Megan Curtis, Danielle Ryder

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Sexual and gender minority youth are statistically more likely to face severe mental health challenges than their cisgender, heterosexual peers; they consistently comprise a disproportionate percentage of youth who report experiencing depression, suicide ideation and attempted suicide in the United States every year (e.g. Abreu & Kinney, 2018). The aim of this study was to fill a gap in the current literature base by investigating the effects of social media use on sexual and gender minority youth mental health. The researchers conducted an online anonymous questionnaire targeted toward American LGBT+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, etc.) youth ages 14 to 18, …

Perceptions Of Mental Health: Eight Conversations With Mainers From Africa, Teresa Sosa, Emelda Ogweta

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

As of 2016, 42 million refugees from around the world had been forced to flee their homes due to war, persecution, or natural disaster (George & Jettner, 2016). Due to these factors, as well as relocation and resettlement, refugees are at a significant risk for trauma and other mental health issues (George & Jettner, 2016). While the literature consistently validates this heightened risk for mental illness in refugees, more research is needed into refugee's perspectives on mental health. Through analysis of semi-structured interviews with eight refugees from Africa, this phenomenological study investigated refugee's perceptions of mental health and mental illness. …

Afterschool Matters Spring 2019, National Institute On Out-Of-School Time, Wellesley Centers For Women

Afterschool Matters

Welcome from the Managing Editor of Afterschool Matters, Spring 2019

By Georgia Hall

About eight years ago, I took my then six-year-old daughter to a local children’s theater performance of The Wizard of Oz. During intermission, she made it clear to me that, next time, she wanted to be on stage. So began an incredible journey into the dramatic arts that was topped off last January with her final youth theater performance.

Process Over Product: How Creative Youth Development Can Lead to Peace

Adam Jacobs

“The person who fell off the person who fell off.” This was the response of …

The Thinker | April, Jennifer Jacobs

Library Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Young People’S Trust In Institutions And Their Dispositions Toward Civic Engagement Since 2009, Wolfram Schulz

Civics and Citizenship Assessment

This paper discusses ICCS results regarding students’ dispositions toward civic engagement and changes in their perceptions of traditional vs. alternative forms of political participation since 2009 as well as factors explaining their variations. It focuses on the role of two important variables that potentially influence students' expectations: trust in civic institutions and political. ICCS 2016 results confirm earlier observations that trust and civic knowledge tend to be either more negatively or positively related depending on general perceptions of corruption, and multivariate also show how expectations to engage in politics in later life are associated in different with these two variables …

Developing A Culturally Competent Legal Research Curriculum, Shamika Dalton, Clanitra Nejdl

College of Law Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Second Chance For Youthful Offenders: Intervention, Prevention, Solution, Monieke Nikole Mcneil

Political Science Student Work

This thesis was written with the specific intent and purpose to address and bring awareness to the “true” underlying causations of juvenile crime and delinquency. To create a new systematic approach and set of policies that effectively diminishes juvenile crime and delinquency and implement and promote new effective solutions of systematic accountability. Although there have been several slight attempts to change the model in which we handle delinquency and crime, an overall change to the system as a whole is warranted. There must be a more comprehensive strategy and culpable understanding of the correlation between the behaviors of crime and …

Sexual Assault On College Campuses: The Links Between Hegemonic Masculinity, College Sports, And Sexual Violence, Vanessa Iroegbulem

Sexual Ethics

This paper seeks to explore the social and neurobiological factors that shape men into sexual aggressors by rewarding violent behaviors. It will critique the exploitation and the commodification of male bodies through sports, namely football.

Palm Leaf Manuscripts In South Asia, Emera Bridger Wilson, Jessica M. Rice

School of Information Studies - Post-doc and Student Scholarship

Many thousands of palm leaf manuscripts, in South Asia and elsewhere, are currently in danger of being lost due to physical deterioration. These manuscripts contain irreplaceable cultural, religious, scientific, and artistic works. Palm leaf manuscripts, which can be centuries old, are found in numerous private collections, temples, monasteries, libraries and museums. The sheer number and wide dispersal of palm leaf manuscripts provide significant challenges to conservation and preservation, including both ethical and technical considerations. A literature search and examination of palm leaf manuscripts shed light on the urgent need to proceed worldwide along two fronts simultaneously: rapid digitization of critical …

The Experience Of Social Workers Who Utilize Therapy Dogs In Practice, Kathryn Jochems

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Animal assisted therapy, which incorporates animals into structured therapeutic interventions, and its use within social work has been shown to increase social interactions, communication, and the overall health and safety of clients (Nimer & Lundahl, 2007). However, there is a gap in the literature regarding the professional and personal experiences of individual social workers with incorporating certified therapy dogs into their practice. This study examined the approval process, perceived effects on practice, perceived effects outside of practice, and future implications of using therapy dogs in social work through the analysis of qualitative data from seven in-depth interviews with licensed social …

The Incidence And Impact Of Workplace Incivility: A Quantitative Study Comparing Public University Staff Member Experiences In The Northeast, Tracy St. Pierre

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Workplace Incivility (WI) is a construct similar to sexual harassment or bullying - it is unwanted behavior and can cause negative emotions for those who experience it. However, it lacks a clear definition or legal repercussions that have been established for sexual harassment and bullying. Thus, incivility is able to thrive in the workplace with little intervention and can create adverse consequences for employees and the organization. Several studies demonstrate that up to 96% of employees have experienced WI (Porath & Pearson, 2010, p.64). Employees who experience WI reduce their work effort and decrease productivity by “venting” to co-workers (Cortina …

Pilot Study Of A Computer Program To Promote Social Skills In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Wesley Mckenzie Williams, Emily Jurcse, Kalanie Vega

Kean Quest

Social skills in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have been targeted in a number of ways including the use of various software programs. This pilot study compared one simulation-based program to traditional therapy as a means to teach social skills to children with ASD. Participants included 8 males, ages 6 years to 13 years old with a diagnosis of ASD. Participants engaged in the simulation-based program (intervention group) or traditional speech therapy (control group) for a six-week period. The Pragmatic Language Skills Inventory (PLSI) was administered before and at the conclusion of the program to measure changes in social skills for …

Clinical Application Of Speech Science In Accent Management, Emily Jurcse, Austin Twine

Kean Quest

In our multilingual society, speech-language pathologists often encounter normal speech variations in people who speak English as a second language. These differences result from the influence of their first language(s) on their English, and are distinct from disorders of articulation and phonology. However, many individuals still wish to more closely approximate “American English.” The clinical application of advances in speech science allows assessment of perception and production of speech across individuals. These can aid in describing non-native English accents by providing live feedback.

To bridge theoretical and clinical aspects of speech science, one full-time faculty member and one adjunct faculty …

Catholic Deaf Community Newsletter, March 9, 2019

Catholic Deaf Community Newsletter

A newsletter published for Deaf Catholics in Portland, OR

Catholic Deaf Community Newsletter Finding Aid

Clemson Libraries Newsletter, Spring 2019, Clemson University Libraries

Libraries Newsletters

Welcome to our inaugural newsletter! This semester Clemson Libraries has made many improvements that will benefit our Clemson community for years to come. While we have hope that this newsletter provides our faculty with information about the changes, we also strive to portray the progress that we made this semester, as well as highlight the resources we continue to provide for our community.

Eco-News April 2019, Office Of Sustainability, University Of Southern Maine

Eco-News

In this issue:

• Greening Your Laundry
• Metro Husky Campaign
• AmeriCorps
• The Path To Carbon Neutrality
• Sustainability Tip

A Good Investment: The Updated Productivity Of Public Charter Schools In Eight U.S. Cities, Corey A. Deangelis, Patrick J. Wolf, Larry D. Maloney, Jay F. May

School Choice Demonstration Project

In 2015-16, the United States spent over $660 billion on its public education system in hopes of providing children with greater opportunities to excel academically and to improve their life trajectories. While public education dollars have risen at a relatively fast pace historically, future challenges, including underfunded pension liabilities, suggest policymakers should economize wherever possible. Meanwhile, the number of public charter schools has increased exponentially. From 1991 to 2018, charter school legislation passed in 44 states and the nation’s capital, and student enrollment in charters increased to around 3.2 million.

Resettling Female Refugees From The Democratic Republic Of Congo: Obstacles And Their Implications For Intervention, Makenzie Jo Winger Pasma

Global Studies Student Projects

No abstract provided.

Online Learning As An Alternative Form Of Education For Individuals Impacted By Conflict, Wynter Oshiberu

MA TESOL Collection

Through a small case study, this paper investigates one on-line learning organization devoted to providing ESL education to persons affected by conflict. Through interviews with administrators and tutors, and through survey data collected from participants, the paper will explore how administrators and tutors:

1) determine suitability of material when deciding what to teach in this virtual classroom format

2) foster reflection skills in this format

3) assess language acquisition

4) measure the benefits of technology in one on one instruction

Paper Airplanes consists of about five hundred to eight hundred students and around 800 hundred tutors (Wimer, 2018). It is …

Does Family Size Negatively Affect Child Health Outcomes In The United States?, Ji Sue Song

Economics Honors Projects

This paper explores the relationship between family size and child health outcomes in the United States. More specifically, it attempts to determine if the number of siblings has a causal effect on child health. Becker’s Quantity-Quality tradeoff suggests that more children (quantity) results to unhealthier children (quality). The main estimation strategy is the use of instrumental variables, for family size and health outcomes can be jointly determined by parental characteristics unseen and unaccounted for. In addition, a sub-analysis on families below the poverty line is conducted to see the additional effect of another child under more constricted circumstances. Lastly, the …

Child Poverty, Physical & Mental Health In Maine, Katelyn Malloy

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Children who live below the national poverty line account for nearly one fifth of Maine’s overall population. Child poverty is a determinant of health that can lead to negative health outcomes that affect childhood development, educational achievement, as well as physical and mental health. The purpose of this study was to identify five Maine counties with the highest rates of child poverty according to the national average. Comparison of poverty rates between counties were analyzed along with two leading health indicators – mental and physical distress. This study used 2016 county-level childhood poverty estimates, assessed by the American Community Survey …

Influence Of Indirect Cues And Vegetation Density On Foraging Behavior In Snowshoe Hares (Lepus Americanus), Zachary Lankist

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Prey avoid chemical cues from predators at feeding sites because the risk of death outweighs the benefit of food. However, we lack information regarding avoidance of chemical cues from competitors as well as how foraging behavior changes alongside vegetative cover. To test if chemical cues and vegetative cover alter prey vigilance, number of visits, and time spent at feeding sites, I observed snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) in plots containing coyote (Canis latrans; predator) and moose (Alces alces; competitor) urine across a spectrum of vegetation densities. Snowshoe hares significantly reduced the number of visits to feeding plots when coyote or moose …

Exploring The Effects Of Dam Removals On Zooplankton In Penobscot Estuary, Erin Bucci, Karen Wilson

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Estuaries provide many ecosystem services such as buffering the negative impacts of storms, offering recreation and commercial fishing opportunities, and they serve as a critical habitat corridor for migratory fish. In New England, estuarine habitats have been dramatically altered over the last 200 years due to dam construction; migratory fish such as Atlantic salmon and alewives have suffered. Recently, there have been several dam removal projects in Maine aimed to restore these populations – the largest of these efforts being the Penobscot River Restoration Project. In 2013, two dams were removed from the Penobscot River Estuary, opening more than 2,000 …