Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Collective Memory For The African Motherland In Interwar Black Chicago And The Limits Of The Environmental Justice Model, Colin Fisher

History: Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

A Critical Review Of The Theory And Practice Of Local And Community Development As It Relates To South Dublin County, Paula Donovan

Masters

This research was undertaken in the context of the Local Government Reform Act 2014, which established new governance and management structures for local and community development in Ireland. The reforms included the establishment of Public Participation Networks (PPNs) and Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), that were designed to work with Local Volunteer Centres, Local Development Companies, and the Local Authority, to bring about a more coherent and integrated approach to community development at local level. This research interrogates the evolution of the new framework, using South Dublin County as a case study. Linking theory, policy, and practice, it critically evaluates …

An Examination Of Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) And Post-Traumatic Growth (Ptg): A Quantitative Analysis Of The Variability Of Growth In Adulthood, Tasanya Rowe

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

ABSTRACT

This study examined the relationship between childhood and adolescent trauma, specifically Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and posttraumatic growth (PTG) in adulthood. Particular attention was given to the role of demographic variables, including race, gender, and socioeconomic status, in shaping trauma responses and recovery outcomes. A quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational, quasi-experimental design was employed. Participants (N = 132; aged 18–65 years) were recruited from general education classes at Fort Hays State University and the surrounding community. Participants completed a survey comprising the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire–Reduced Item Version and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory. Data were analyzed using bivariate correlations, ANOVAs, and multiple …

Transforming The Public Transport Sector In The Philippines Through Service Contracts: A Program Evaluation Study, Varsolo Sunio, Wilhansen Li, Joemier Pontawe, Albert Dizon, Alexis Fillone

Department of Information Systems & Computer Science Faculty Publications

We evaluate two schemes of service contracting (SC) program implemented for the first time in the Philippines: gross-cost and net-cost. Using an automatic vehicle location (AVL) dataset generated using a mobile application, we examine the supply and performance of jeepney, a form of paratransit, on 20 routes during the pandemic. Ten of these routes are under gross-cost, and the other ten are under net-cost. Our evaluation suggests that gross-cost SC has resulted in more kilometer-run travelled, more arrivals at the stop, shorter headway duration, which are indicative of increased supply, compared to net-cost. However, we obtain mixed results for metrics …

Not Strong Enough? The Role Of Resilience In The Development Of Big Five Personality In Adult Survivors Of Childhood Trauma, Erica Treto

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Childhood trauma is a significant and increasing problem in the United States, with research showing that two-thirds of children have experienced at least one traumatic event before reaching the age of sixteen (SAMHSA, 2023). These events can have severe consequences in adulthood, including impacts on personality. However, there are protective factors, such as resilience, that can help mitigate the negative effects of childhood trauma. Extensive research and discussion have focused on the relationship between childhood trauma and personality, particularly in terms of mental health. However, research has been limited to investigating all Big Five personality traits and childhood traumas along …

Exploring The Connection Between Subclinical Autistic Traits And Dysfunction In The General Population, Victoria J. Carter

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been a disorder of increased interest in research and diagnostic referrals in recent years, especially within higher functioning populations. However, little is still known about subclinical presentations of ASD and subclinical autistic symptoms. Due to the lack of symptoms to meet a diagnostic level, individuals experiencing subclinical autistic symptoms often do not have access to services and are overlooked in clinical settings. It is often assumed that because an individual is not diagnosable that they are not suffering because of the same symptoms that caused them to be at a subclinical level. This study aimed …

Examining How Adverse Childhood Experiences, Resilience, And Social Support Influence Academic Satisfaction, Zoe Caldwell

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

College students face many challenges while working toward their educational goals (Meneghel et al., 2019). Although stressors may not seem significant, they are important to address as the effects accumulate over time and can have a negative impact on students' performance (Gresham & Karatekin, 2023). Without the impact of ACEs, children would be better equipped with skills that could help them continue with higher education, gain better employment, and break the cycle of trauma for any future children. Resilience can help students cope with challenges and improve their chances of graduation and academic success (Myat Zaw et al., 2022). One …

Burnout, Employee Satisfaction, Organizational Commitment, And The Big Five: A Healthcare Analysis, Courtney Molleker

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Previous research has demonstrated connections between job satisfaction, organizational commitment, burnout, and personality traits in healthcare workers. Understanding these relationships can allow for greater insight into the healthcare worker shortage. The current study is aimed to further assess these relationships in addition to targeting subdomains within these variables. A total of 67 participants employed in a combined long-term care and assisted living facility completed measures regarding their employee satisfaction, attitudes towards organizational commitment and burnout, and questions related to their personality. It was hypothesized that employee satisfaction would significantly predict organizational commitment and burnout. The subdomains of burnout were also …

Blood Biomarkers In Down Syndrome: Facilitating Alzheimer’S Disease Detection And Monitoring, Melissa E. Petersen, Lisi Flores-Aguilar, Elizabeth Head, Laia Montoliu-Gaya, Andre Strydom, Sarah E. Pape, Juan Fortea, Nicholas J. Ashton, Chinedu Udeh-Momoh, Sid E. O’Bryant, Dwight German, Florin Despa, Mark Mapstone, Henrik Zetterberg

Neurology Faculty Publications

Blood-based biomarkers continue to be explored for disease detection, monitoring of progression, and therapeutic outcomes as the diagnostic determination of Alzheimer’s Disease in Down Syndrome (DS-AD) remains challenging in clinical settings. This perspective highlights the current status of this effort. Overall, amyloid (A), tau (T), and neurodegeneration (AT[N]) blood-based biomarkers have been shown to increase with disease pathology for individuals with DS. Phosphorylated tau biomarkers (p-tau217, p-tau181) have been consistently shown to track disease progression for DS-AD and are likely good candidates for use in clinical settings. Biomarkers of inflammation (glial fibrillary acidic protein) also show promise; however, additional work …

Elementary School Teachers' Perceptions Of The Common Core State Standards For Mathematics, Rebecca Potts

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This dissertation examines elementary school teachers' perceptions of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSS-M), focusing on evaluating their views on developmental appropriateness and identifying challenges encountered during implementation. Rooted in the broader historical context of educational reforms in the U.S., the study investigates whether the adoption of CCSS-M adequately integrates research on child development, learning trajectories, and cognitive neuroscience. Using a mixed-methods design incorporating surveys and semi-structured interviews, this study gathered insights from kindergarten through fifth-grade teachers and mathematics interventionists. Findings reveal mixed perceptions among educators regarding the developmental appropriateness of the CCSS-M, highlighting concerns that some standards …

The Effects Of A Seizure Safety Program Implemented In Non-Public Schools On Teacher Knowledge And Confidence In Managing Seizures, Laura Brockman

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This study investigated the impact of a seizure safety training program implemented in non-public schools on teachers’ knowledge and confidence in managing seizures. Utilizing a pre-course, post-course, and three-week follow-up design, the research assessed educators' seizure-related knowledge, first-aid preparedness, and shifts in perception through quantitative questionnaires and self-reported confidence measures. Results demonstrated increased knowledge and confidence immediately following the intervention, with retention sustained at follow-up. Both live and virtual formats were effective, though virtual participants showed slightly higher immediate post-training scores. Participants reported reduced misconceptions and increased preparedness, emphasizing the value of structured and recurring professional development. These findings support …

Sensory Evaluation And Consumer Acceptance Of A Protein Enriched Energy Bar, Brennah T. Groves

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

ABSTRACT

Sensory Evaluation and Consumer Acceptance of a Protein Enriched Energy Bar

Brennah Groves

This study evaluated the sensory properties and consumer acceptance of a protein enriched energy bar. The objectives of this study were to 1) formulate a high-protein energy bar containing at least 20 g of protein per 100 g serving, and 2) determine whether increasing the protein content in an energy bar would enhance the sensory evaluation and improve consumer acceptance among collegiate athletes. The control energy bar featured a shortbread base, date caramel with whey protein, a nougat layer, and a chocolate coating. Additional collagen protein …

What Does It All Mean? Differences In Self-Defining Memories Between Community And Adjudicated Youth, Hannah Elias

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Identity development is driven in large part by self-defining memories, or memories though which we base our definition of who we are (Habermas & Bluck, 2000). In adolescence, cognitive skills are gained that allow us to make meaning, or learn lessons and gain insight, from self-defining memories (Bluck & Habermas, 2001; McLean & Thorne, 2003). To determine whether there are differences in their ability to make meaning from their self-defining memories, this study compares narratives of self-defining memories between community youth and adjudicated youth. Additionally, the ability to be specific in self-defining memory recollection may differ between these groups, which …

A Sense Of Purpose In Life And Efforts To Increase It In Higher Education, Jacob Edwin Alderson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A sense of purpose in life, defined as a dispositional tendency to pursue goals and activities in line with one’s overarching life direction (Hill, 2016), has been discussed as a key individual difference factor to foster in today’s college students (Colby, 2020; Pfund, Bono, & Hill, 2020). As such, the present dissertation sought to understand the psychosocial and academic benefits associated with having a sense of purpose in life in college via two studies: 1. Assessing changes in a sense of purpose in life across the first year of college and how these changes were associated with academic performance and …

Three Essays On The Interaction Between Macroeconomics, Money, And Government Bonds, Zejun Jiang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation, ''Essays on the Interaction between Macroeconomics, Money, and Government Bonds,” has three chapters that study how macroeconomics (e.g., inflation), government bonds, and money interact with each other. It provides insights into how households make optimal maturity choices in government bonds, how households own different types of government bond assets, and how money growth can help understand the cross-country inflation after COVID-19.

The first chapter develops an intertemporal portfolio choice model to investigate the optimal household portfolio choice for government bonds across maturities. The U.S. Treasury data displays a higher holding share of long-term government bonds. Adding uncertain labor …

Permeability Of Politics: Exploring The Impact Of Mobilization On Political Discussions In A Closed Religious Community, Sara K. Guthrie

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In 2016, the Amish PAC was formed with the intent of mobilizing a group of low propensity voters who they believed could help secure political victory in critical swing states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania. These efforts continued through the 2020 election as the PAC continued to court voters within a closed religious community in an attempt to encourage political activity amongst those who ideologically remain apolitical. Specifically, this mobilization effort targeted those within the Amish and Mennonite communities, discussed throughout this dissertation as the ‘Plain Community’. This dissertation analyzes the mobilization attempt by measuring changes in the way the …

Pro-Government Militias And Political Instability: The Consequences Of Outsourced Regime Security, Ben J.A. Leo

Theses and Dissertations--Political Science

The state is often conceptualized as an entity with a monopoly over the use of force within some set borders. Yet, more and more frequently, states allow or deliberately create friendly non-state military organizations. Five-hundred and four of these groups, known as Pro-Government Militias (PGMs), were observed between 1981 and 2014 and were present in a little more than thirty percent of country-years in that timeframe (Carey et al. 2022). Moreover, while some groups are relatively small and weak, many constitute a considerable military force within their country and beyond. For example, the Xinjiang Construction Corps in China, which maintains …

Lgbt People's Sense Of Linked Fate: Belonging And Utility, Kay Hales

Theses and Dissertations--Political Science

This is a three study dissertation. While the LGBT community is often referred to as a monolith, research suggests that it may be separate subgroups under one umbrella. Linked fate is the sense that what happens to one member of a group will affect all other group members with consequences for political behavior. While research on racial identity groups suggests that members often feel a sense of linked fate with other group members, this research has not been generalized or explored in the LGBT community. This study empirically explores whether there is a sense of linked fate in the LGBT …

Contextualizing Violence Against Women: The Influence Of Social Solidarity On Attitudes Toward Gendered Violence In Bangladesh, Tasnia Symoom

Theses and Dissertations--Political Science

Existing theories, such as Social Identity Theory, Social Dominance Theory, and the Black Sheep Effect, explain how group biases shape social attitudes but overlook the role of social contexts, such as relational dynamics, hierarchical stability, and norm violations, in influencing attitudes toward violence against women (VAW). This research addresses that gap by advancing the Selective Solidarity Theory (SST), which integrates group identity processes with contextual factors to explain selective support for perpetrators or victims based on identity and circumstance.

Using an original national survey experiment in Bangladesh, the study examines how gender, religious affiliation, and political partisanship affect public …

Leveraging Data Science For Resilience: Improving Trauma-Informed Care Practice For Adverse Childhood Experience With Ai & Data Science Application, Mohmmad Arif Shaik

Master's Theses

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have long-lasting effects on physical health, mental well-being, education, and socioeconomic outcomes. Resilient Georgia (RG), a statewide initiative, seeks to address ACEs through trauma-informed care and data-driven strategies. However, challenges in data collection, analysis, and tracking set back the effectiveness of these efforts. This study explores the role of data science and interactive visualization tools in improving outcomes for individuals and communities affected by ACEs. A key focus of this research is the development of a data science management application designed to enhance data collection and improve real-time decision-making. The application features interactive dashboards that allow …

Neurobiological Variables Mediating The Relationship Between Breast Cancer And Sleep Disruption, Brittany Domenique Elliott

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Neurobiological Variables Mediating the Relationship between

Breast Cancer and Sleep Disruption

Brittany D. Elliott, MS

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy in women, with more than two million new cases diagnosed world-wide each year. Improvements in screening technology and diagnostics have increased survival rates, but cancer-associated sleep disruptions persist for the majority of breast cancer survivors well beyond the treatment period. In addition to reducing quality of life, reduced sleep quality is associated with greater incidences of affective dysfunction, reduced treatment efficiency, aggressive cancer progression, increased symptom severity, and increased mortality by all causes. Thus, identifying the variables …

A Case Study In Program Evaluation: Evaluation Of A Program To Increase Physical Activity, Megan M. Harper

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Public health revolves around 3 core functions: assessment, policy development, and assurance.¹ For public health initiatives to have long-term success, we must determine if the intended effects of those programs are met in the beginning stages of program development and implementation; thus, program evaluation relates to the core function of assessment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed a framework to facilitate this process and enable subsequent informed decisions on how to improve public health programs, which relates to policy development.² The CDC framework is comprised of 6 interconnected steps and 4 groups of standards; together, …

Parental Stress, Self-Compassion, And Meaning In Life Among Mothers Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Hyun-Ju Ju

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

Mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience higher levels of parenting stress than mothers of typically developing children or children with other developmental disabilities, which can undermine their psychological well-being. Additionally, parental stress among mothers of children with ASD is influenced by various demographic factors. This study primarily identified the relationship between parental stress and demographic factors. It also examined the correlations among parental stress, self-compassion, and meaning in life of mothers raising children with ASD within a positive psychology context. Finally, this study investigated whether self-compassion mediates the relationship between parenting stress and two distinct dimensions …

How Do Couples Of Autistic Children Perceive Their Quality Of Life? A Case Study Featuring Sequential Mixed Methodology, Amanda Duncan Dr.

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

Families who have autistic children report significantly lower quality of life indicators than neurotypical families and those with other developmental disabilities (Bitsika & Sharpley, 2004; Brown et al., 2006; Charnsil & Bathia, 2010; De Sousa, 2010; Merkaj et al., 2013). However, the reports fluctuate between family members as mothers report more mental health challenges than fathers, including stress, anxiety, and depression (Dabrowska & Pstiula, 2010; Hodapp et al., 2003; Merkaj et al., 2013). Yet, these findings are based on the limited research that has been done on fathers and couples (Cheuk & Lashewicz, 2015; Osborne & Reed, 2008; Papageorgiou & …

Enhancing Risk And Crisis Communication With Computational Methods: A Systematic Literature Review, Madison H. Munro, Ross J. Gore, Christopher J. Lynch, Yvette D. Hastings, Ann Marie Reinhold

VMASC Publications

Recent developments in risk and crisis communication (RCC) research combine social science theory and data science tools to construct effective risk messages efficiently. However, current systematic literature reviews (SLRs) on RCC primarily focus on computationally assessing message efficacy as opposed to message efficiency. We conduct an SLR to highlight any current computational methods that improve message construction efficacy and efficiency. We found that most RCC research focuses on using theoretical frameworks and computational methods to analyze or classify message elements that improve efficacy. For improving message efficiency, computational and manual methods are only used in message classification. Specifying the computational …

From Cyclones To Cybersecurity: A Call For Convergence In Risk And Crisis Communications Research, Ann Marie Reinhold, Ross J. Gore, Barry Ezell, Clemente I. Izurieta, Elizabeth A. Shanahan

VMASC Publications

Effective risk and crisis communication can improve health and safety and reduce harmful effects of hazards and disasters. A robust body of literature investigates mechanisms for improving risk and crisis communication. While effective risk and crisis communication strategies are equally desired across different hazard types (e.g., natural hazards, cyber security), the extent to which risk and crisis communication experts utilize the “lessons learned” from scientific domains outside their own is suspect. Therefore, we hypothesized that risk and crisis communication research is siloed according to academic disciplines at the detriment to the advancement of the field of risk communications research writ …

Applying Transfer Learning For Street-Scale Nuisance Flood Forecasting In Coastal-Urban Cities, Binata Roy, Jonathan L. Goodall, Diana Mcspadden, Chetan Kumar, Steven Goldenberg, Yidi Wang, Malachi Schram

VMASC Publications

An important challenge with Machine Learning (ML) is its transferability; i.e., whether a ML model trained on one set of data can be applied to a second set of data without requiring full re-training of the model. Transfer Learning (TL) addresses this challenge by transferring knowledge learned in the source domain (the data it was trained on) to the target domain (a second set of data that is statistically different but related, which the model was not trained on). This study investigates the use of TL for street-scale nuisance flood forecasting by exploring whether a ML model trained for one …

Student Self-Evaluation As Assessment: A Reflective Tool For Ungraded Pedagogy, Jennifer Corby

Open Educational Resources

This Google Form-based self-evaluation tool is designed to support a student-centered, ungraded approach to assessment in an introductory political science course. Rooted in critical pedagogy and Universal Design for Learning principles, the form invites students to reflect honestly and thoroughly on their own work. For each assignment, students are asked to articulate the expectations, assess the extent of their engagement, and reflect on their learning. The tool reinforces metacognition, accountability, and democratic participation in the learning process.

Finding Peer-Reviewed Research, Jamie Aroosi

Open Educational Resources

This is a short assignment that teaches studens about the role of peer-review as well as how to find and identify peer-reviewed research.

School Leaders’ Role In Strengthening Multi-Tiered Systems Of Support To Promote Student Success, Leslie Dial, Juliann Sergi Mcbrayer, Antonio P. Gutierrez De Blume, Caitlin Criss, Mary Josephine Carney

Georgia Educational Researcher

School leadership in education is thinking, communicating, and modeling to maximize student growth and achievement. This quantitative research study explored how school leadership can strengthen the academic progress of students within Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). When implementation of MTSS is guided by adaptive school leadership, educators will be prepared, communication will occur, interventions will be established, and data will be evaluated. Adaptive school leaders who build efficacy will ensure fidelity and continuous improvement. Survey research was conducted to analyze the operational level of MTSS regarding the domains of Leadership, Building Capacity for Instruction, Communication and Collaboration, Data-Based Problem-solving, Tiered …