Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Journalists Perception Of The Effectiveness Of Wellness Programs At Vision Group, Edna Ruth Mubiru

Executive Masters in Media Leadership and Innovation

Employee wellness is increasingly recognized as critical to organizational success. This study investigates employee perceptions of wellness programs at Vision Group, Uganda’s largest media house. With over 200 editorial staff, Vision Group operates in a high-pressure environment characterized by tight deadlines and financial constraints. Midst growing evidence linking wellness to productivity, this research evaluates the types, effectiveness and potential improvements for wellness initiatives at Vision Group. The study utilizes a cross-sectional design with mixed qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data collection includes a survey of editorial staff, an interview with the Human Resources personnel and analysis of secondary data such as …

Strategy For Establishment Of A Swahili Creative Economy And Innovation Ecosystem: Kiwandeo Kreative District, Lamu, Kenya, Omar Swaleh Abubakar

Executive Masters in Media Leadership and Innovation

This capstone explores the strategic establishment of the Kiwandeo Kreative District, a focal point of Swahili creative economy and innovation ecosystem in Lamu, Kenya. It examines how Lamu’s rich Swahili cultural heritage, coupled with global trends in creative economies, can drive economic transformation through the establishment of a creative district. A comprehensive literature review explores concepts such as creative districts, media leadership, partnerships, infrastructure and capacity development, highlighting best practices and identifying gaps addressed by this study. This study highlights key challenges, including lack of networking opportunities, weak policy frameworks, limited capacity development and infrastructure deficits while uncovering opportunities in …

An Analysis Of Kenya Sign Language In Children’S Programming On Kenyan Tv: Towards Effective Strategies For Incorporating Ksl On Akili Tv Programs, Anne Junny Sato

Executive Masters in Media Leadership and Innovation

In Kenya, the inclusion of Kenya Sign Language (KSL) in children's programs on television holds significant potential for fostering inclusivity and accessibility for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) community. However, the effective integration of KSL into children's programming requires careful planning, consideration of linguistic and cultural nuances, and utilization of appropriate strategies. This capstone project aims to analyse the utilisation of KSL in children’s TV programming and propose effective strategies for incorporating KSL in children's programs on Akili TV, a prominent television channel in Kenya. Drawing from linguistic theories, such as Chomsky's Language Acquisition Device (LAD), and global …

Ai Adoption In Content Management At Nation Media Group, Grace Kerongo

Executive Masters in Media Leadership and Innovation

This qualitative study focuses on the unique challenges faced by Kenyan newsrooms, particularly within the Nation Media Group (NMG), as they navigate the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. Through in-depth interviews with personnel directly involved in digital content management under Nation. Africa, Business Daily and Taifa Leo the research investigates the influence of AI on various aspects of content management, including veracity, tagging, categorization, content generation and production. The findings reveal that while NMG is making strides in AI adoption, it grapples with significant barriers such as financial constraints, technical skill gaps among staff, and professional reservations regarding the …

An Assessment Of Participation And Contribution Of Women Journalists In News Processes: A Case Of Vision Group, Uganda, Caroline Arinaitwe

Executive Masters in Media Leadership and Innovation

This research assesses the participation and contribution of women in news processes at Vision Group, Uganda. Through a descriptive survey design, the study employs In-depth interviews and newsroom observations to achieve its objectives. These objectives include assessing women journalists' participation and contribution to news processes, Identifying if any gaps in the news production process would hinder the nurturing and promotion of gender-sensitive content and the viability and effectiveness of establishing a Gender desk to promote and nurture gender-sensitive content to stem the flagging audiences. The findings reveal that women's limited contribution and participation at the content-gathering level for news, politics, …

A Guide For Spiritual Leadership And Christian Discipleship- Be Optimistic, Embrace Your Culture, Nurture Your Gift: Integrating The Beatitudes, The Fruit Of The Spirit, And Emotional Intelligence For Multigenerational Leadership, Adriane Smalls-Owens

Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) Capstone Abstracts

Title of Project: A Guide for Spiritual Leadership and Christian Discipleship

Be Optimistic, Embrace Your Culture, Nurture Your Gift:

Integrating the Beatitudes, the Fruit of the Spirit, and Emotional

Intelligence for Multigenerational Leadership

Defense Date: April 8, 2025

Candidate Name: Adriane Smalls-Owens

Personal Email Address: [email protected]

First Advisor: Dr. Emile Hawkins

Second Advisor: Dr. Bethany Peters

DSL Final Project

Project Type: Manuscript

Project Overview: The book introduces the integrated concepts of Be Optimistic,

Embrace Your Culture, Nurture Your Gift as The B.E.N. Model

for Spiritual Leadership and Christian Discipleship by

integrating the Beatitudes, the Fruit of the Spirit, and Emotional …

Islamic Themes In Us Hip-Hop Culture, Anders Ackfeldt

Music & Performance in Muslim Contexts

Explores how Islam is produced in American hip-hop culture by both Muslims and non-Muslims

Islam has been a part of hip-hop culture since it sprang from New York’s street culture in the 1970s. Today hip-hop has evolved into a global artform with a diversity of Muslim Islamic discourses expressed. Using tools from the field of social semiotics, this book examines how Islamic themes feature in US hip-hop culture, maintaining a particular awareness that both Muslims as well as non-Muslims participate in their production.

Anders Ackfeldt analyses a collection of lyrics, sounds and images to show how Islamic themes are featured …

An Analysis Of The User-Needs For Premium Content Subscribers: The Case Monitor Publications Limited, Emmanuel Mutaizibwa

Executive Masters in Media Leadership and Innovation

This capstone study investigated the user needs model at Monitor Publications Limited, the leading independent media house in Uganda under the Nation Media Group (NMG) stable. The study evaluated the role user needs’ in addressing audience preferences in the evolving media landscape. Using qualitative methods including document analysis, which interpreted thematic patterns in the textual data and interviews (KII) of editors and the digital analytics team, the study examined the importance of user needs as a framework that can identify peculiar preferences of audiences and the most relevant user needs dimensions that fit specific audience personas. The study probed the …

Food And Alcohol Disturbance Norms And Behaviors: Examining Their Association And The Role Of Gender, Victoria E. Peroni

West Chester University Master’s Theses

Food and alcohol disturbance (FAD) is a behavioral pattern that consists of compensatory behaviors, such as dietary restriction and exercise, which are used in conjunction with alcohol consumption. Despite growing research on FAD, its relationship with descriptive social norms and gender differences remains underexplored, particularly in non-college adult populations. The present study examined the prevalence of FAD behaviors, their associations with descriptive norms, and potential gender differences in these relationships. Using a broad-age adult sample recruited through Prolific (n = 727), item-level FAD descriptive norms were analyzed to determine their specific relationship with FAD behaviors. FAD descriptive norms were …

All Under Control: How Trait Emotional Intelligence May Moderate The Effect Of State Arousal On Implicit Attitudes Towards Academic Dishonesty, Daniel J. Moco

West Chester University Master’s Theses

The current study examined predictors in the changing of implicit attitudes toward academic dishonesty (AD). The primary predictor measured was self-reported stress and arousal, the strength of which being a possible influence on one’s change in implicit attitudes. Trait emotional intelligence (EI) was measured as a covariate and potential moderator of the interaction between stress and arousal, and one’s implicit attitudes toward AD. One hundred nine undergraduate psychology students from a public university were recruited to take assessments for trait EI, stress and arousal, and implicit attitudes toward AD. To manipulate the induction of stress and arousal, participants were randomly …

Factors Affecting The Joy Of Life In Old Age: A Scale Development Study, Yalçın Karagöz, Yusuf Karaşi̇n, Mustafa Filiz, Mehmet Ateş

Adultspan Journal

This study aims to introduce a measurement tool into the literature that can reveal the factors affecting the joy of life in older adulthood. Participants included 266 individuals aged 55 and over living in Izmir, Turkey. The process of developing the scale includes the following stages: problem identification, item pool creation, expert opinion, form shaping, pilot application, and finalizing the scale. The exploratory factor analysis revealed that the scale consists of 6 different dimensions, and the variance explained by these dimensions was found to be 65.184%. The acceptable values for the scale's fit indicators are as follows: χ²/df0.90, IFI > 0.90, …

"What Is Title Ix? What's It Mean?": An Instrumental Case Study In Today's Secondary Schools, Kristin Haggerty

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Sexual harassment and assault, as defined by Title IX, are widespread issues in middle and high schools, yet schools often fail to provide sufficient education to students and staff about the policy and its protections (Grant et al., 2019). Title IX is a federal law designed to ensure fair and equal treatment of students and employees in educational settings while also overseeing the handling and adjudication of sexual misconduct allegations (Klusas, 2003). This study was conducted using instrumental case study research. 36 staff members from the middle school, high school, and administration of a mid-sized school district in Southeastern Pennsylvania …

Silent Testimonies: The Global Evolution Of Grave Marker Art And Meaning, Erik Culley

Bakerman Student Research Awards

Grave markers are more than simple memorials; they are meaningful cultural objects that reflect how societies understand death, identity, belief, class, and community values. The size, material, decoration, and inscriptions of gravestones change over time in response to economic conditions, religious beliefs, social structures, and consumer culture. By studying grave markers across different regions and historical periods—such as early modern Europe, nineteenth-century Germany, and immigrant cemeteries in Australia—archaeologists can trace broader cultural transformations. Research shows that the rise of external grave markers in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was closely tied to increased material consumption and a growing emphasis on …

Email Synthesis Assignment: Using Ai To Assist Us In Creating Effective Business Communication, Gino Perrotte

Open Educational Resources

This assignment teaches students how to distill complex financial data into a clear, professional business email by analyzing real 10-K reports. A key strength of the assignment is that it models effective AI prompting strategies—students are guided in how to interact with AI tools like ChatGPT to clarify data, summarize trends, and craft a concise email.

The focus is not just on using AI, but on developing critical thinking and communication skills. Students learn to assess what information is important, how to frame it for a workplace audience, and how to co-create with AI while ensuring the final …

Spring 2025 Oer Seminar, Pamela Thielman, Katherine Tsan

Open Educational Resources

This slide presentation was created by Pamela Thielman and Katherine Tsan for the Baruch College Center for Teaching and Learning.

Reassessing The Role Of Polynesian Rats (Rattus Exulans) In Rapa Nui (Easter Island) Deforestation: Faunal Evidence And Ecological Modeling, Terry L. Hunt, Carl P. Lipo

Anthropology Datasets

The role of introduced Polynesian rats (Rattus exulans) in the deforestation of Rapa Nui remains a contentious issue. Several critics, including Mieth and Bork (2010), argue that rats played a negligible role compared to human impacts. We address the role of rats through three lines of evidence: (1) a response to rats-are-neglible arguments, including problematic continental analogies and misunderstandings of seed predation impacts; (2) analysis of rat remains from Anakena excavations (1986-2005) showing that rats decreased by 93% over time, contradicting claims they served as a “fallback food” following resource depletion; and (3) ecological modeling demonstrating that introduced …

La Integración De La Literatura Chicana En La Enseñanza Del Español Como Lengua Adicional Hacia La Competencia Cultural Y Lingüística En Ee.Uu., Marina Linares Klauke

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Los enfoques tradicionales para la enseñanza del español como lengua adicional en los Estados Unidos han dependido en gran medida de perspectivas eurocéntricas que priorizan las variedades peninsulares y latinoamericanas, presentando el español como una lengua extranjera desconectada de su realidad sociolingüística dentro del país. Este enfoque obsoleto ignora la presencia histórica y contemporánea del español como una lengua viva utilizada por comunidades hispanohablantes en todo EE. UU., lo que contribuye a una desconexión cultural y lingüística tanto para los estudiantes de herencia como para aquellos que aprenden español como lengua adicional. Esta tesis examina el impacto de la integración …

การรักษาพยาบาลของประชากรไทยในช่วงก่อนและระหว่างที่มีการระบาดของโควิด-19, ฉัตรชัย เพ็งจันทร์

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

งานวิจัยนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อศึกษาปัจจัยที่มีความสัมพันธ์กับการเข้ารับบริการรักษาพยาบาลเมื่อเจ็บป่วยในสถานพยาบาลและค่าใช้จ่ายที่ผู้ป่วยต้องจ่ายเอง ในช่วงเวลาก่อนและระหว่างที่มีการระบาดของโควิด-19 โดยใช้ข้อมูลจากโครงการสำรวจอนามัยและสวัสดิการ พ.ศ. 2562 (n= 9,634) และ 2564 (n= 7,247) สำหรับการวิเคราะห์ในส่วนที่หนึ่งเป็นการศึกษาปัจจัยที่มีความสัมพันธ์กับการตัดสินใจเลือกของวัยแรงงานเมื่อเจ็บป่วยซึ่งมีสามทางเลือกคือ ไม่ได้รักษา ซื้อยามากินเอง และการไปรักษาที่สถานพยาบาล โดยใช้วิธีการถดถอยโลจิสติก และในส่วนที่สองเป็นการศึกษาปัจจัยที่มีความสัมพันธ์กับค่าใช้จ่ายที่ผู้ป่วยวัยแรงงานต้องจ่ายเอง โดยใช้แบบจำลองโทบิต ผลการศึกษาในส่วนที่หนึ่งด้วยวิธีการถดถอยโลจิสติก กำหนดให้กลุ่มของประชากรที่ป่วยและไม่รักษาเป็นกลุ่มอ้างอิง ผลการศึกษาพบว่า ในช่วงเวลาก่อนและระหว่างที่มีการระบาดของโควิด-19 ประชากรที่มียานพาหนะในครัวเรือน ประชากรกลุ่มผู้สูงอายุตอนปลาย ประชากรที่มีสิทธิ์ข้าราชการที่ใช้ในการรักษา ประชากรที่มีโรคประจำตัว มีความสัมพันธ์กับการซื้อยามากินเองเมื่อเจ็บป่วยเมื่อเทียบกับการไม่รักษา ประชากรที่มียานพาหนะในครัวเรือน การมีโรคประจำตัว ประชากรผู้สูงอายุตอนปลาย มีความสัมพันธ์กับการเข้ารับบริการรักษาพยาบาลเมื่อเจ็บป่วยในสถานพยาบาลเมื่อเทียบกับการไม่รักษา ผลการศึกษาในส่วนที่สองด้วยแบบจำลองโทบิต พบว่า ในช่วงเวลาก่อนและระหว่างที่มีการระบาดของโควิด-19 ประชากรที่อาศัยในภาคเหนือ ผู้มีสิทธิ์รับการรักษาในประกันสังคม สิทธิ์ข้าราชการ รวมถึงผู้ป่วยที่เข้ารับบริการในสถานพยาบาล จะมีค่าใช้จ่ายที่ผู้ป่วยต้องจ่ายเองต่ำกว่า ในขณะที่ปัจจัยพื้นฐานทางเศรษฐกิจของครัวเรือน แสดงให้เห็นว่าผู้ป่วยจากครัวเรือนที่มีรายได้สูง จะมีค่าใช้จ่ายที่ผู้ป่วยต้องจ่ายเองสูงตามด้วย

Exploring Social Issues In And The Reception Of The Thai Television Series The Gifted, Siyu Liang

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This research explores the Thai television series The Gifted (GMMTV, 2018) as a cultural text that reflects the power dynamics and social inequalities embedded in Thailand’s educational system. Drawing on Michel Foucault’s concept of disciplinary power, the research examines how the series portrays mechanisms of control, compliance, and resistance within a hierarchical school environment. Textual analysis is complemented by a reception study of audience responses collected from YouTube, IMDb, and MyDramaList, revealing how viewers interpret and emotionally engage with the drama’s social implications. The findings suggest that The Gifted functions not only as youth entertainment but also as a critique …

Heroes And Villains?, Jonny Thakkar

Political Science Faculty Works

Eich’s book is a tour de force. It takes us through six episodes in which the history of political theory and the history of political economy intersect through the topic of money. From Aristotle to Locke and Fichte and then through to Marx and Keynes before a final episode costarring Hayek, Rawls, Habermas, and Walzer, we are treated to a fascinating set of reflections on what money is and should be, each articulated in the face of a particular historical crisis. This approach gives us a new way of thinking about what is salient in the history of political thought, …

Assessing How Patients With Spinal Cord Injury Are Affected By Climate Change And Extreme Weather: A Scoping Review, Lien-Chieh Lin, Hung-Chou Chen, Tsan-Hon Liou

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Climate change and the rising frequency of extreme weather events (EWEs) pose significant challenges to vulnerable populations, particularly individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). These patients are at greater risk due to impaired thermoregulation, limited mobility, poor sensation, and dependence on caregivers or adaptive equipment, increasing their exposure to climate-related hazards and disrupting healthcare access during disasters. Although climate change impacts on the general population are well-documented, research on specific disability groups like SCI patients remains limited. This scoping review investigates how SCI patients perceive and experience health risks from climate change and EWEs, as well as factors influencing their …

From Pulpit To Policy: Transforming Latino Evangelical Communities Through Pastoral Civic Capacity Building, Mark A. Vega

Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) Capstone Abstracts

Title of Project: One Day Seminar: From Pulpit to Policy: Transforming Latino Evangelical Communities Through Pastoral Civic Capacity Building

Defense Date: April 1, 2025

Candidate Name: Mark Vega

Personal Email Address: [email protected]

First Advisor: Dr. Emile Hawkins

Second Advisor: Dr. Bethany Peters

DSL Final Project Abstract: This project investigates the transformative potential of Latino evangelical churches in enhancing civic engagement and community advocacy through pastoral leadership. Utilizing Kotter’s 8-Step Change Model, the research identifies significant socioeconomic, cultural, and institutional barriers that impede civic participation among Latino communities. Through qualitative analysis involving Latino evangelical pastors and leaders, the seminar-based approach equips …

Provision Cfo: Empowering Strategic Financial Excellence For Small Businesses And Entrepreneurs, Cindra Vang

Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) Capstone Abstracts

Project Overview

ProVision CFO offers strategic financial management solutions tailored to the unique needs of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and rapidly growing organizations. This project aims to equip clients with robust financial strategies and actionable insights necessary for sustainable growth, operational excellence, and long-term success. ProVision CFO provides comprehensive financial guidance including fractional CFO and accounting services.

Project Themes

The ProVision CFO framework encompasses three key components designed to optimize financial performance and organizational effectiveness. Component One—Strategic Clarity: Establishing clear financial goals aligned with organizational vision, mission, and values. Component Two—Financial Optimization: Providing accounting services to streamline financial processes and enhance …

Comparing Funders' Altruism Versus Self-Interest: Leveraging The Context Of Crisis, Dan Liu, Guangzhi Shang, Cynthia Fan Yang

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

While reward-based crowdfunding has widespread popularity, the motivations driving funders, balancing self-interest and altruism, have remained puzzling. Prior research has been constrained by examination methods and produced mixed findings regarding the weight of altruism versus self-interest among funders. Our study takes a fresh perspective, delving into funder behavior amid a major crisis—the tumultuous backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings reveal that funders not only display an increased willingness to contribute but also significantly amplify their contributions, particularly to projects in crisis-affected regions, irrespective of external incentives like rewards. This underscores the prevalence of altruistic motives among funders in challenging …

Understanding The Determinants Of Blockchain Adoption: An Empirical Study, Amarpreet Kohli, Nihar Kumthekar, Piyush Shah, Rebecca Jauch

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Blockchain technology (BT) has the potential to enhance security and robustness of transactions through a distributed ledger bookkeeping process. This study employs technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework and threat-rigidity theory (TRT) to examine whether perceived disruption caused by COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the adoption of BT, and inclination to adopt BT in the US. The COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique backdrop, as it affected businesses across all industries, sizes, and geographies. Results show a non-significant effect of perceived pandemic disruption on the current stage of BT adoption and intention to adopt BT. However, disruption readiness positively influences the current stage of BT …

Comparing Vr And Tv In Nigeria And The U.S.: Impacts On Empathy, Engagement, And Enjoyment, Jinhee Yoo, Eugene A. Ohu, Radosław Mącik

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

This study (N = 170), involving participants from Nigeria and the U.S., investigated how different technologies (TV and VR) affect users' empathy (α = .93), engagement (α = .93), enjoyment (α = .93), preferences, and likelihood of technology use. Participants watched an animated documentary titled “Is Anna OK?” at two different time points, utilizing VR (Oculus Rift S) and TV, following which they completed measuring empathy, engagement, enjoyment, device preference, and usage likelihood. Analysis via one-way ANOVA and chi-square tests revealed that VR users reported significantly higher empathy and enjoyment compared to TV viewers, particularly on second viewing. Combining both …

Latine Students In U.S. Schools: An Interactive Resource Book For Educators, Melissa Colón

OER Textbooks

This interactive resource book provides educators with highly curated research, academic scholarship, and community-based materials to better inform and support their work with Latine students, families, and communities. Grounded in critical and culturally sustaining pedagogies (Rendón et al., 2014; Alim & Paris, 2017). This book encourages educators to cultivate a spirit of curiosity, collaboration, and continuous learning, recognizing that serving Latine students well requires both commitment and ongoing inquiry.

Geophysics, And Capturing Ethnographic Interviews Of A Tidal Plantation Burial Ground, Kristin M. Meeuwen (Dew)

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Plantation development in Chatham County has a rich but incomplete history. Silk Hope, an Ogeechee District tidal plantation, is located seven miles from the city of Savannah on the Northern banks of the Little Ogeechee River. This project focuses on identifying the site boundaries of portions of Silk Hope Plantation and its historical background. Specifically, the project focused on delineating the boundaries of the associated cemetery and/or burial grounds, while estimating the number of individuals interred there using ground-penetrating radar (GPR). Finally, collaborative work with community members, including stakeholder and descendant interviews, will provide ethnographic insights into the site's history …

A Culture-Centered Approach To Exploring The Impact Of Culturallyappropriate Communication On Patient-Provider Communication Satisfaction For Blackfeet Patients With Type 2 Diabetes, Zita K. Ottersbach

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This study explores how culturally appropriate communication influences perceived quality of care and communication satisfaction among patients with T2D. Grounded in the Culture-Centered Approach (Dutta, 2008), this study explores how cultural identity, systemic structures, and communication practices shape the ways that Amskapi Pikuni individuals navigate their care, and seeks to ask: How, if at all, does a provider’s culturally competent communication influence a Blackfeet patient’s management of their T2 Diabetes? This project is based on in-depth, qualitative interviews with 13 Blackfeet participants, most living within the exterior boundaries of the Blackfeet reservation and receiving their primary healthcare at the local …

Describing And Understanding The Use Of Coaches For Eating Disorder Recovery: A Mixed Methods Study, Taylor E. Penwell

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Individuals with eating disorders (EDs) experience high rates of relapse and delays in accessing treatment. Considering these factors, individuals with EDs may seek out non-traditional support, such as coaching services (e.g., an unlicensed individual providing support). However, there is currently no research on individuals with EDs’ experiences with using coaching services for ED recovery. The current study aimed to a) describe who is utilizing coaching support, b) describe coaching services received, c) evaluate the motivations for seeking coach support, and d) evaluate the perceived impact of coach support on an individual’s ED recovery. Participants included 86 adults with a self-reported …