Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Understanding Change Following Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: A Phenomenological Study, Melina K. Bricker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The field of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is growing and broadening, with significant implications for treatment-resistant behavioral health disorders for which traditional therapies have limited impact. Determining the efficacy of such treatments with populations seeking relief from trauma-related chronic behaviors must include an understanding of trauma’s complex impact on regulatory functioning, the perceptual and functional changes experienced as a result of PAT, and implications for future research in addressing trauma-related treatment resistance. To understand the phenomenon of change, questions of motivation, experience, and outcomes in this treatment type must be understood. In this qualitative phenomenological study, 10 patients at a ketamine-assisted …

Relationship Between Mental Health Education And Nurse Preparedness, Deborah C. O'Dell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study was to see if there was a relationship between the type of Mental Health education undergraduate nurses received or the number of Mental Health clinical days they experienced and how prepared they were to care for Mental Health Consumers (MHCs) when they first were employed. This information had never before been studied, so had the potential to change nursing curriculum and provide better care for MHCs. An anonymous survey using the Behavioral Health Care Competency’s questions was used and an invitation to participate was placed on various nursing discussion forums and social media sites. Participants (n = …

A Phenomenological Look At Licensed Professionals' Perceptions And Lived Experiences Of Parental Alienation In The Family Court System, Jacqueline Ziebart

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Parental alienation (PA) frequently emerges in high-conflict child custody disputes and is commonly understood as one parent encouraging a child to unjustifiably reject the other parent. The behaviors associated with PA encompass a complex form of family violence, incorporating elements of both intimate partner violence and child psychological abuse. As a polarizing and multifaceted social issue, PA necessitates further dialogue and interdisciplinary collaboration among professionals. This qualitative research study explored licensed professionals’ perceptions and lived experiences of PA in the family court system. The research aimed to investigate the meaning professionals attributed to PA across individual, family, and institutional levels. …

Exploring Trauma And African American Male Victims Of Intimate Partner Violence, Paige Shaunta Denigi Simon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to examine the experiences of heterosexual African American men from Georgia who are victims of IPV. This study aims to identify barriers that hinder survivors from reporting their trauma and seeking mental health services and resources. The theoretical framework utilized for this research study is Intersectional Theory. Using Intersectionality as a theoretical lens for this research study allows for a greater understanding of the multiple components and experiences that shape the identity of the African American man. This qualitative phenomenological study answered the following central research questions: “In what ways do African American male victims …

A Qualitative Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Individuals Whose Parents Or Grandparents Had/Have Substance Abuse Issues In The Midwest, Brandie Lee Gaudet

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study focused on the lived experiences of individuals being raised by individuals who had/have substance abuse issues in the Midwest region of the United States of America. A closer look at this topic offered new insight into treatment and resources for adult children raised by parents/grandparents (collectively “parents”) with substance abuse issues (“SAI”) and how the parents’ substance abuse issues compromised the behavioral health outcomes of the adult children and affected the parents’ parenting outcomes. Understanding the role of family systems theory in adaptive and maladaptive behaviors is essential when formulating a plan to help individuals’ negatively impacted by …

Lived Experiences Of Older Adults After Involuntary Work Separation, Mark Mallock Rose

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of those subjected to involuntary work separation at age 50+ in the United States. The literature concerning involuntary job loss is lacking in research pertaining to the 50+ age demographic. This research is important in the aspect that older workers face specific challenges that their younger counterparts may not after involuntary work separation. Understanding the psychological responses, positive aspects, and negative aspects of involuntary job separation in older adults added to the literature for those aged 50+. The research design was qualitative inquiry using virtual recorded interviewing …

Does Institutional Response Matter? A Qualitative Study Of Child Sexual Abuse Within Southern Baptist Convention-Affiliated Churches, Bonnie Colleen Wetzel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Child sexual abuse (CSA) affects approximately one in four girls and one in 20 boys in the US, with 91% of perpetrators being known to the child (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). This instrumental case study explored how adult female CSA survivors (N=9) perceive their experiences and institutional responses within Southern Baptist Convention (SBC)- affiliated churches. Data collection involved Zoom interviews, journal prompts, and focus groups. Two research questions guided the study: How do adult survivors perceive their experiences of abuse within SBC-affiliated churches? And how do they perceive the church's response following disclosure? Betrayal Trauma Theory (Freyd, …

Moral Injury And Spiritual Struggles Among Christian Adults With A History Of Substance Use And Perceived Problematic Behaviors: A Phenomenological Study, Diera Shaw-Mendez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of moral injury and spiritual struggles among Christian adults from the Philadelphia tri-state area with a history of substance use or perceived problematic behaviors. Moral injury (MI) is newly studied in civilian populations. In a review of 253 studies on moral injury and substance use, only two qualitative studies explored exposure to morally injurious events amid substance use rather than as a pathway to substance use. Due to the religious characteristics of the target sample, the grounding theory for this study is Fowler’s Stages of Faith Development, which …

The Church’S Response Post Grey Divorce: A Phenomenological Study Of Evangelical Men Experiencing Grey Divorce And The Implications For Faith And Post-Divorce Adjustment, Randall Rush

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In 1990 one out of every ten divorces involved an individual over the age of fifty. By 2010, that number had climbed to one out of every four divorces. As of 2019, one in three people getting divorced in the United States was aged fifty or older. Termed by researchers as “grey divorce,” this phenomenon is expected to grow as demographic shifts reveal an increasing older adult population with longer life expectancies. These later-life divorces have psychosocial and economic negative consequences on the individual. Divorcing later-life men and women share a number of these negative consequences, but there is gender-based …

Transitions Of Faith: Navigating Pastoral Changes In Small African American Churches, Joshua O. Dixon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of African American pastors aged 65 and older as they navigate leadership transitions within small churches in Florida. These churches, characterized by the absence of formal succession planning support from a parent organization, serve as critical pillars in their communities. Guided by Bridges' Transition Theory, this research investigated the emotional, psychological, and spiritual dimensions of pastoral transitions, focusing on the stages of 'Ending, Losing, and Letting Go,' 'Neutral Zone,' and 'New Beginning' (Bridges, 1980). Data collection methods included a pre-qualifying survey, individual interviews, and focus group discussions, analyzed through thematic analysis supported by …

The Use Of Intellectual Humility As A Framework For Elementary School Teachers In The Development Of Positive Parent-Teacher Relationships, Ralinda Aspey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although the educational and psychological communities have identified the importance of the parent-teacher relationship to the academic success and social benefit of students, difficulties continue to persist in identifying specific strategies for building positive relationships between parents and teachers. This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of seven elementary school teachers in public schools to examine whether intellectual humility manifested in their reported ability to develop positive relationships with parents. A semi-structured interview with participants revealed seven overarching themes evident in their experiences with parents which align with the construct of intellectual humility. These themes include Proactive Communication, Openness to …

Women Leaders In Healthcare: Emotional Intelligence, Job Satisfaction, And Organizational Citizenship Behavior, Kuan-Yin T. Timothee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this nonexperimental quantitative correlational study was to explore the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI), organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), and job satisfaction among women in nonclinical leadership roles within the U.S. healthcare sector. As healthcare organizations adapt to technological, social, and economic transformations, they must increase their focus on cultivating EI and promoting OCB, especially in leadership roles (Bowling & Sessa, 2021; Herr et al., 2022; Marstand et al., 2021). Additionally, research has shown that EI facilitates business development and diminishes obstacles to organizational sustenance. Although prior research has established a link between EI and OCB, there is …

Contagions Of Doubt: Denialism And The Spread Of Medical Conspiracy Theories, Haley Boom

Anthropology

Denialism and conspiratorial thinking have long shaped public perceptions of science and medicine, but the COVID-19 pandemic exposed how rapidly these forces can evolve and spread in a digital age. This thesis examines the historical roots, psychological foundations, and modern amplification of medical conspiracy theories, with a particular focus on vaccine skepticism and COVID-19-related misinformation. As a literature review, it synthesizes existing interdisciplinary research from psychology, public health, and communication studies to explore how medical conspiracy beliefs emerge from complex interactions between cognitive biases, emotional needs, mistrust in institutions, and evolving media environments. The rise of social media, political polarization, …

Primates Shed Light On Glowing Mammals – Adaptation Or Epiphenomenon?, Juliana Hicks

Anthropology

Fluorescence is the ability of chemicals and materials to give off visible or invisible light after absorbing radiation such as ultraviolet light. Fluorescence has been documented in several mammalian families, yet Primates, as an order, have received limited attention in this regard. Within Primates, the suborder Strepsirrhini has been particularly overlooked. Strepsirrhines are compelling subjects due to their retention of primitive mammalian characteristics, representing a significant knowledge gap with respect to the occurrence of fluorescing pelage within the class Mammalia. To address this gap, we investigated the presence and absence of fluorescence in the pelage of preserved museum strepsirrhine specimens …

Accuracy Of Balance Assessment Metrics Using Wearable Sensors, Brandon Sirof

Anthropology

Balance is a critical part of remaining healthy at all ages. Poor balance can lead to life-changing injury. Balance is typically assessed in a lab using a force-platform (FP), by comparing horizontal movements of the center of mass during trials with eyes open and eyes closed. The goal of this study is to evaluate whether inertial measurement units (IMUs) can be used to accurately measure balance. Simultaneous FP and IMU data were collected for 1 subject for 45s trials with eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC). We evaluate whether IMU and FP metrics for COM movement (max accel and …

Using Wearable Sensors For Gait Analysis: Measurement Accuracy For Linear Measurements, Evan Block

Anthropology

Measurement and analysis of human movement are necessary in a broad range of clinical, sports performance, and artistic applications. Historically, motion data were typically collected using optical motion capture systems. However, these systems are expensive and can only be used in lab spaces, which limits the range and speeds of human behavior. More recently, inexpensive, wearable sensors called Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) have enabled motion measurement in natural settings, but these systems require validation before use. In this study, we evaluate measurement accuracy for linear displacements obtained using Sparkfun OpenLog Artemis IMUs. We conducted a series of tests, moving the …

Not Right Now: Factors Affecting Interruption Decisions In A Healthcare Paradigm, Matthew G. Pacailler

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Interruptions are common in the workplace, but when they happen during high-stakes critical tasks, they can have serious consequences. In the field of healthcare, interruptions can lead to serious adverse events or medication errors. Research on interruption management strategies addresses the potentially harmful outcomes of interruptions but often fails to account for the initial decision to accept or reject the interrupting task. Two experiments were performed to examine the decision-making outcomes for interruptions.

In experiment I, the participants monitored two EKG displays while simultaneously entering medication information into a patient chart. The decision to accept or reject an interruption was …

Investigating The Ability To Perceive Nonverbal Behaviors In Different Interaction Formats, Amanda J. Ashdown

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The rapid rise in interactive video-based communication has raised important questions about how it affects the perception of nonverbal behavior and impression formation. Guided by the Parallel Process Model (PPM), Multiple Resource Theory (MRT), and Working Memory (WM) models, this study investigated the ability of individuals to observe and assess another person’s nonverbal behaviors and form accurate impressions during conversations in live, face-to-face interactions compared to virtual formats. The study employed a 2 (interaction format: live vs. virtual; within-subjects) × 2 (observation type: active vs. passive; between-subjects) × 2 (genuineness: genuine vs. nongenuine behavior; between-subjects) mixed design. Participants either actively …

Academic Freedom And Free Speech In Crisis: Elite Educational Institutions Response To Student Protests After October 7th, Isabella Blauvelt-Mercado

Political Science

Higher education institutions establish themselves as academic communities for students to explore various perspectives and values. When controversial topics arise, such as the October 7th Hamas-Israeli attack, students have the First Amendment right to voice their opinion and critically analyze the world around them. When institutions place limitations on this freedom— either through restrictive speech codes, administrative interventions, or the suppression of certain viewpoints—they risk undermining the very purpose of education and critical inquiry. This puts into question the entire responsibilities of these institutions as they limit and suppress student demonstrations. My research is necessary because universities serve as a …

The Effects Of Political Polarization On Congressional Oversight, Jason Aguayza-Palaguachi

Political Science

The increasing political polarization in the United States has had affected the relationship between the Democratic and Republican Parties and their ability to work together so they can govern the country effectively. While numerous scholars have previously conducted research on political polarization, one important aspect that requires further research is the extent that polarization has affected the role of congressional oversight. In this study, I will examine the congressional committee investigations of the Iran-Contra Affair and the 2012 Benghazi attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi. The analysis of newspaper articles, media reports, voting records, and public statements will reveal …

Third Parties As A Matter Of Rhetoric: The Development Of Third Party News Coverage, 1890-2020, Aedan Perry

Political Science

There has been a lot of debate in academia over the reasons that third parties have traditionally fared poorly in the United States. Such explanations have largely ignored discussion of how the public's perception of third parties have changed over the course of 120 years' worth of elections and political evolution. By first taking a broad look at the prevalence of key terminology, and then drawing connections between the coverage of various campaigns, it can be noted that while third parties have lost a significant amount of esteem, the two party system itself has also declined relative to the mid …

An Analysis Of Climate Change Communication In The Modern World: What Works And What Doesn’T, Erin Donnellon

Political Science

Effective climate change communication is a broad and widely researched topic, attempting to address how to communicate the issue of climate change in a way that will not only lead people to believe in and to care about it, but also to act on the changing climate. While individual action is progress made, collective action is more effective and more often the goal of this communication. Climate change is consistently considered to be one of the most critical political issues due to its time sensitivity and exponentially increasing, drastic results. Scientists have agreed that climate change is an impending and …

Chess Not Checkers: A Contemporary Analysis On Judicial Retirement And Lingering Justices In The Modern U.S. Supreme Court, Nic Feldman

Political Science

In an era where the Court is particularly partisan, Justices choosing to stay on longer due to these motivators is lowering the legitimacy the Court has with the general public. First, partisan effects and interests are explored in regard to how the Court has gotten partisan and the effect that has on judicial retirement. Then, interest groups and their effect on judicial retirement is looked into. Next, it is shown why judicial retirement is significant, and the factor that these external forces play into it is explained. Finally, some recommendations for change regarding the High Court, since there is reform …

Allen V. Milligan And Predicting Louisiana V. Callais, Noah Kasprzak

Political Science

In its 2021 docket, the United States Supreme Court would take on the case Allen v. Milligan from the Eleventh Circuit in the United States Court of Appeals. This case surrounded the new Congressional map that Alabama had drawn following the 2020 Census, which would be in effect from the 2022 House of Representatives Elections until 2030. In this map, a single majority-minority district was drawn of the seven total, despite nearly 1 in 3 Alabamians belonging to a racial minority. Voters and several organizations would challenge this new Congressional map on the grounds of it violating Section 2 of …

Emergent Models Of Place-Based Philanthropy: A Review Of Six Foundations’ Initiatives, Douglas Easterling

The Foundation Review

Traditional approaches to place-based philanthropy, including comprehensive community initiatives (CCIs), are characterized by four design features: 1) a centralized stakeholder group that serves as the primary nexus for the foundation’s engagement; 2) an extensive planning process on the front end; 3) the planning group’s initial strategy serves as the basis for the foundation’s investments throughout the initiative; and 4) foundation staff play a largely transactional role in reviewing proposals, awarding grants and monitoring progress. This linear, structured approach to community change has had only limited success over 30 years of foundation practice.

In response, a growing number of foundations have …

The Impact Of Sibling Sexual Abuse On Parenting Stress, Giuliana Berry

Theses and Dissertations

Sibling sexual abuse is the most common yet least reported, treated, and studied manifestation of child sexual abuse (Bertele & Talmon, 2023; Caffaro & Conn-Caffaro, 2005; Krienert & Walsh, 2011; O’Brien, 1991). It is a particularly challenging form of intrafamilial sexual abuse for parents and caregivers because their children are both the victim and the perpetrator of the abuse. They struggle to balance the needs of both children (Duane et al., 2002; Tener et al., 2020) and may experience heightened stress and associated psychological difficulties. Parenting stress is linked to child and adolescent posttraumatic stress and internalizing and externalizing problem …

Evaluating A Video Modeling Approach To Teach Shelter Volunteers How To Interact With Dogs In The Shelter, Sean Michael Will

Theses and Dissertations

Well-trained volunteers are required to help meet the daily needs of dogs waiting to be adopted in animal shelters and to find new homes for them. Inadequate volunteer training leads to mismanagement and attrition of volunteers who are essential to helping shelter dogs get adopted. However, animal shelters often lack access to the resources and funds required to provide adequate training for volunteers. Using a nonconcurrent multiple baseline design, this study evaluated a cost-effective program consisting of video modeling with voiceover instruction, on-screen text, examples, and non-examples that instructed volunteers to interact with the dogs in a specific manner to …

Tfr 17.1 Full Issue

The Foundation Review

No abstract provided.

Executive Summaries

The Foundation Review

No abstract provided.

Are Community Philanthropic Organizations Planning For Climate Change?, Beth Gazley, Rachel Cash, Laurie Paarlberg

The Foundation Review

Although their role is sometimes overlooked, an Indiana statewide study confirms that most community foundations and United Way agencies directly contribute to meeting local disaster response needs.

Although half of all community foundations and United Ways report past service disruptions due to the more severe weather caused by climate change, the majority have not discussed the need to plan for disasters with their boards of directors to assure business continuity.

Community foundations lag behind United Ways and direct service nonprofits in risk mitigation, and their leaders are more likely to downplay the potential impacts of climate change on state residents. …